This is the fourth blog post concerning Ronald White's article "Institutional Review Board Mission Creep: The Common Rule, Social Science, and the Nanny State." Today's topic is the Alternatives to IRBs section. This is the weakest portion of White's paper, for it ignores the obvious answer to the problem of IRBs.
White lists the following options "to protect research subjects in behavioral research without the IRB bureaucracy's involvement": IRB reform, oversight of research by department chairs rather than IRBs, revivification of the concept of right to scientific expression via courses reasserting individual researcher responsibility, and professional association joint control with government. Another "locus of control" option not mentioned by White are research subject advocate groups.
The correct alternative to "the IRB juggernaut," White's apt description, is abolition of IRBs via abolition of the state. Then, and only then, spontaneous, creative, non-coercive mechanisms to protect the subjects of research will evolve. Non-aggressive evolution of all social institutions is the essence of liberty.
White lists the following options "to protect research subjects in behavioral research without the IRB bureaucracy's involvement": IRB reform, oversight of research by department chairs rather than IRBs, revivification of the concept of right to scientific expression via courses reasserting individual researcher responsibility, and professional association joint control with government. Another "locus of control" option not mentioned by White are research subject advocate groups.
The correct alternative to "the IRB juggernaut," White's apt description, is abolition of IRBs via abolition of the state. Then, and only then, spontaneous, creative, non-coercive mechanisms to protect the subjects of research will evolve. Non-aggressive evolution of all social institutions is the essence of liberty.
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