Module 1 Examples: “Introduction”
Example 1.2
Adapted from: Harvard University, "Human Subject Protection."
A business student interviews Roger Waters (former bassist, and singer/songwriter of Pink Floyd) about the songs he played on his recent solo concert tour.
Is this human subjects research?
Probably not. There is interaction, and the subject may be clearly identifiable, but the activity is not designed to yield generalizable knowledge. The information only pertains to this musician.
Example 1.3
A staff researcher for the Rural Demography Project wants to combine two existing data sets to enhance her research. The combined data will identify individuals by county of residence, colleges or universities attended, and degree dates.
Is this human subjects research?
Yes. The combined information might well identify unique individuals. This means the research is a systematic investigation of identifiable private information.