"Non-medical research" studies do not involve any medical testing or procedures.
The goal of conducting non-medical research studies is to learn more about society in some specific way. Non-medical researchers want to learn more about individual or group behaviors. Non-medical researchers want to discover the best ways to improve public school and private school education.
University of Virginia researchers conduct non-medical research studies in the United States and in many other countries around the world.
Non-medical researchers might also be called "social researchers," "behavioral researchers," and/or "education researchers."
Here are some examples of non-medical research studies:
- Testing new ideas to improve reading and math curriculums in public elementary schools in Virginia
- Interviewing international refugees to document their experiences and struggles
- Observing the behaviors and emotions of typical three year olds to improve understanding of toddler emotional health and development
- Improving social support networks for people diagnosed with AIDS in Ethiopia
- Developing the most effective strategies to prevent elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation in the United States
- Studying the best ways to provide internet access in third world countries
You have rights as a research participant. These rights apply to all research participants enrolled in both medical research and non-medical research.
Your rights as a research participant
Could you get hurt by being in a non-medical research study? Before you decide to participate in a research study, please ask the researcher to fully explain the consent form. The consent form will explain all of the known risks and benefits of being in a non-medical research study.
In general, the most common risk posed by most non-medical research studies is the confidentiality of the information collected about you. University of Virginia researchers will do everything possible to protect the privacy of any information you share with them. Read about research oversight at U.Va.
Return to main page |
