Collaborative institutional training initiative (CITI) & Institutional Review Board (IRB)

The certification of Collaborative institutional training initiative (CITI) empowers the researcher to understand the historical background behind principles and regulations governing the rights, safety and privacy of research subjects (CITI, 2017). Processes involving risk assessment and in-depth awareness of confidentiality and ethical issues of research subjects are detailed in great length.

Institutional review board (IRB) process was also studied in great length. IRB ensures that research does not involve any minors, prisoners, pregnant women, employees in researcher’s organization and other vulnerable individuals. Participant selection methods, number and gender, associated risks, conflict of interest and research methods are elaborated in application when researcher applies for IRB approval.

To ensure that research is conducted while adhering to high ethical standards, there are some mandatory guidelines to be followed by researcher which include, respect and privacy of participants, give right to withdraw to participant anytime, confidentiality should be maintained, data protection and security is assured throughout the research, consent forms are reviewed and signed by participants prior to participation. Also, transparency and fairness should be maintained while bias in research should be removed. No harm should happen to participant while no compensation of any form should be provided to participants.