Introduction
The Arctic Data Center accepts data from all disciplines and research types, including research that involves human participants. To better support Arctic social science and interdisciplinary researchers, we have curated a list of resources to help guide the application process for approval from the Institutional Review Board (IRB).
The purpose of this page is to provide some general tips and guides, but we recommend going to your IRB for specific questions.
Before You Get Started
- Complete any required training from your institution’s IRB
- Ensure you have communicated your research goals and intentions with relevant rights-holders, and that this research is supported by relevant community members and stakeholders
- Set expectations and guidelines for any necessary data sharing agreements between stakeholders
- Communicate IRB application expectations to research team
General Tips
IRB applications and processes will vary depending on the type of research, and the university, meaning there is no universal application process. Every university that facilitates research has an Institutional Review Board (IRB) to ensure ethical research practices for human subject research. Below are a few general resources to help guide the application process.
- IRB Examples:
- Example of a Varying IRB Applications (Montclair State University, n.d.)
- Sample IRB application relevant for those conducting surveys (San Jose State University, n.d.)
- Tips and Guides:
- A Student’s Guide to Navigating the IRB: How to Successfully Navigate a Potentially Overwhelming Process (Murphy & Verden, 2011)
- How I Learned To Stop Worrying and Love the IRB (Cameron, 2015)
- Required Documents:
- All Required Documents for IRB Submission (University of Texas at Arlington, n.d.)
- Drafting the Informed Consent Form (University of California Irvine, n.d.)
- Research Instrument Examples (Teachers College, Columbia University, n.d.)
Data Sharing & Sensitive Data
Sensitive data, meaning data that contains identifiable information needs to be anonymized before sharing or publishing (Educause, 2015). Plans for the data post collection need to be fully communicated within the IRB application, and research participant research forms.
Anonymizing Data
- Using R:
- Deidentifying Data (Kantoris, 2020)
- duawranglr: Securely Wrangle Dataset According to Data Usage Agreement (Skinner, 2021)
- Using Excel:
- How To Randomize a List in Excel (Indeed, 2023)
- Using Qualtrics:
- Security Survey Options (qualtrics, n.d.)
- Using Python:
- Data Anonymization in Python (Aysha, 2023)
Data Sharing & Policy
- Open Science:
- Qualitative Open Science – Pain Points and Perspectives (Field et al., 2021)
- Data Sharing:
- Scientific Cooperation: Supporting Circumpolar Permafrost Monitoring and Data Sharing (Bouffard et al., 2021)
- 9 Sharing and Preserving Indigenous Knowledge of the Arctic Using Information and Communication Technology (McCann et al., 2018)
- The Canadian Consortium for Arctic Data Interoperability: An Emerging Polar Information Network (Christoffersen et al., 2018)
Resources for Research Best Practices when Working with Arctic Communities
There are additional considerations when working with Arctic Indigenous communities. Historically, research conducted on Indigenous lands lacked consent or participation from local communities, and rarely benefited the communities (Gearheard & Shirley, 2007; Alcock et al., 2017; Schang et al., 2020; Wong et al., 2020). Today, there are many resources to guide best practices as researchers work towards reconciliation. We have listed a few of those resources, and also recommend researching the specific needs of the community you are working with.
The U.S. Interagency Arctic Research Policy Committee (IARPC) published Principles for Conducting Research in the Arctic (2018), which encourages researchers to:
- Be Accountable
- Establish Effective Communication
- Respect Indigenous Knowledge and Cultures
- Build and Sustain Relationships
- Pursue Responsible Environmental Stewardship
The Arctic Research Consortium of the United States (ARCUS) has also provided a valuable list of best practices for working with Indigenous communities in the Arctic:
Research Best Practices
- Human Subjects Research Considerations (Budden et al., 2022)
- National Inuit Strategy on Research (Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK), 2018)
- Negotiating Research Relationships with Inuit Communities: A Guide for Researchers (Nickels, 2006)
- IASSA Principles and Guidelines for Conducting Ethical Research in the Arctic (International Arctic Social Sciences Association, 2022)
Participatory Mapping
- Arctic Corridors and Northern Voices Project: Methods for Community-Based Participatory Mapping for Low-Impact Shipping Corridors in Arctic Canada (Dawson et al., 2020)
Co-Production and Reconciliation
- A Framework for Co-Production of Knowledge in the Context of Arctic Research (Yua et al., 2022)
- Towards Reconciliation: 10 Calls to Action to Natural Scientists Working in Canada (Wong et al., 2020)
- Sharing Oral History with Arctic Indigenous Communities: Ethical Implications of Bringing Back Research Results (Allemann & Dudeck, 2019)
- Understanding Our Environment Requires an Indigenous Worldview (Daniel, 2019)
For more references, see our bibliography and additional resources page.