HSC review is required for studies that meet the definitions of “research” and “human subject.”

According to the regulations, research is any systematic investigation designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge. Any activity that meets this broad criterion and that is conducted by UNA faculty, administration, staff, students, and contracted consultants or that uses UNA facilities is research for the purposes of this discussion. It does not matter whether the activity takes place within and as a part (however large or small) of some other activity, such as a demonstration or service program, or whether the research is the whole of a project.

Regulations define a human subject as a living individual about whom an investigator obtains either (1) data through intervention or interaction with the individual, or (2) identifiable private information. Intervention generally includes both physical procedures by which we gather data (e.g., venipuncture) and manipulations of the subject or the subject’s environment that are performed for research purposes. Much more common are interactions which include communication or interpersonal contact between the investigator and the subject. Private information includes information about behavior that occurs in a context in which the individual can reasonably expect that no observation or recording is taking place. Thus, the individual will have provided the information for specific purposes and can reasonably expect that the information as associated with his or her identity will not be made public.

The following chart will help you determine if your study is subject to HSC review:

Do I need HSC approval?
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