I may be too late to contribute anything helpful to this thread (I get the digest version so I'm always a day behind or so). There is obviously a concern about to what extent the IRB should be evaluating the quality of the research, and intelligent people can have different opinions on this. On the practical side, I would suggest that one or two faculty from the department ask to meet with the IRB to discuss the issue in general (not just the specific protocol that was submitted). The IRB members are most likely reasonable people who would appreciate a dialogue about how to best fulfill their responsibilities. So my suggestion (as the IRB administrator at my institution) is to listen to their concerns, explain your concerns, and help them come up with a good policy that fits your institution.
David Kreiner Professor of Psychology and Assistant Dean of The Graduate School Central Missouri State University [EMAIL PROTECTED] --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]