Human Subjects Guidelines

The department-level human subjects committee is meant to facilitate the protection of human research subjects, the University and faculty, as well as student researchers. The policy of the University is that any research or related activity involving human subjects must be reviewed by a Committee for the Projection of Human Subjects. To review University CPHS policies, especially in regards to issues of risk, please visit their web page. The University CPHS answers your frequently asked questions about human subjects research. 

What studies need to be reviewed? The short answer is that all research involving human subjects (including Master's Theses and course-based research in which students interact with participants outside of the course) should be reviewed. When in doubt, fill out the form below! However, research conducted by students within an established CSUS course and in which the only participants are other students in the same course does not need to be reviewed. Similarly, research in which the students in a course observe the public behavior of others but do not interact with them also does not need review. It is the responsibility of the course instructor to be sure that appropriate research procedures are followed. 

The departmental-level human subjects committee must examine all proposals for in-class teaching projects and student research. The committee can approve "exempt" proposals, but any higher level of risk must be forwarded to the university-level CPHS after departmental review. To review University CPHS policies, especially in regards to issues of risk, please visit their web page.

CSUS Sociology Department Human Subjects Committee
Proposal Submission Deadlines
Academic Year 2012-2013
Sociology Department Deadline CSUS Committee Deadline
Monday, August 27, 2012 at 5:00pm
Monday, September 24, 2012 at 5:00pm
Monday, October 22, 2012 at 5:00pm
Monday, November 12, 2012 at 5:00pm
Monday, January 14, 2013 at 5:00pm
Monday, February 11, 2013 at 5:00pm
Monday, March 18, 2013 at 5:00pm
Monday, April 15, 2013 at 5:00pm		 Tuesday, September 10, 2012 at 12pm
Monday, October 8, 2012 at 12pm
Monday, November 5, 2012 at 12pm
Monday, November 26, 2012 at 12pm
Monday, January 28, 2013 at 12pm
Monday, February 25, 2013 at 12pm
Monday, April 2, 2013 at 12pm
Monday, April 29, 2013 at 12pm
NOTE: Neither committee meets or reviews proposals in the summer.
Human Subjects Committee Chair: Charlie Varano (cvarano@csus.edu)
Committee Members: Jennifer Murphy, Todd Migiliaccio


Directions:

  1. You MUST have your form reviewed by your advisor BEFORE you submit it to the department HSC.
  2. You MUST COMPLETE the process with the department HSC before submitting your information to the University CPHS.
  3. Download the University CPHS form.
  4. Complete the University form in conjunction with your faculty sponsor. Your sponsor must sign off on the completed form.
  5. Paste the information from the University form into the appropriate boxes for the departmental form below and press "submit."
  6. You will receive an email response confirming the receipt of the form.

The committee will review the proposal at the next meeting and will inform you of the results.

Name of Student Researcher:

Name of Faculty Sponsor:
(Your faculty sponsor MUST approve this research plan prior to submission!) 

Title of Project:

Telephone and e-mail address for researcher:

Anticipated starting date:

1.Who will participate in this research as subjects (e.g., how many people, from what source, using what criteria for inclusion or exclusion)?Ý How will you recruit their participation (e.g., what inducements, if any, will be offered)?Ý How will you avoid any conflict of interest as a researcher?

2. How will informed consent be obtained from the subjects?Ý If a signed written consent will not be obtained, explain what you will do instead and why.

3. How will the subjects' rights to privacy and safety be protected?

4. Summarize the study's purpose, design, and procedures.

5. Describe the content of any tests, questionnaires, interviews, etc. in the research. What risk of discomfort or harm, if any, is involved in their use?
(To review CSUS policies visit: http://www.csus.edu/research/humansubjects/)

6. Describe any physical procedures in the research. What risk of discomfort or harm, if any, is involved in their use?
(To review CSUS policies visit: http://www.csus.edu/research/humansubjects/)

7. Describe any equipment or instruments and any drugs or pharmaceuticals that will be used in the research. What risk of discomfort or harm, if any, is involved in their use?

8. Taking all aspects of this research into consideration, do you consider the study to be "exempt", "minimal risk", or "greater than minimal risk"? Explain why.
(To review CSUS policies visit: http://www.csus.edu/research/humansubjects/)

9. In the box below paste the text from your Consent Form, or the text to be read in an interview or verbal survey.

10. In the box below paste the text of your survey instrument or interview questions.

 This research plan and the specific contents of this human subjects form have been approved by my faculty sponsor.