Ethnography Guidance for Institutional Review Boards (IRBs): Considerations for Reviewing Ethnographic Research

Harvard Catalyst SBER subcommittee in partnership with the Boston College Office for Research Protections

Our Ethnography Guidance for Reviewers is designed to help clarify what information researchers should be able to provide in their IRB application, as well as when and where flexibility is necessary or acceptable. This guidance helps answer questions such as: Does this study meet the Common Rule definition of human participant research? And, what should I keep in mind when reviewing ethnographic study proposals?