Guide :: Submission :: Dispute
What if I don't agree with the Board's recommendations?
The Board strives to make recommendations that will ultimately protect participants, but they do not want to compromise the research process either. The protocol process is not always perfect; although the Board is very diligent in trying to understand the study, sometimes details get lost in translation. If you are concerned about a recommendation made by the Board, first, talk to your pre-reviewer. He or she may be able to help you better understand what the Board is asking and help you determine if the Board’s request has any flexibility. Second, if the recommendation for your protocol still needs to be altered, devise alternative solutions to present to the Board. Generally the Board’s underlying concern behind their recommendation is the most important part to satisfy. For example, if the Board recommended that you make a change in your data collection process because they felt like the proposed process would compromise the participant’s confidentiality, but you find that the recommendation actually doesn’t protect participants or makes it impossible for you to collect the data, you should re-evaluate your data collection process and propose a solution that will improve your ability to protect participant confidentiality while maintaining your data collection. In most cases, the Board may be willing to consider alternative solutions if the underlying goal is met. However, if you refuse to consider the concerns of the Board or decide that their recommendations are inconvenient, the Board will be less willing to work with you. Please know that the Board is bounded by federal regulations which determine how the Board makes its decisions; the Board cannot approve measures which violate the regulations that they follow.
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