Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Description: Tags: Target
Description: Tags: Target
DEC 6, 1995
1
As explained later in this memorandum, any deviation from formal IRB
procedure must be supported by adequate documentation.
then decide to expand the number of files that he or she
explores, so that the particular program can be examined.2
2
If a reviewer does decide to look at files beyond the 15 that were
randomly selected by the IPOS Statistical Sampling System, the
additional files should at least be chosen from the full statistical
sample. Please see the Statistical Sampling Handbook for further
information.
3
Observe that the principles of professional judgment described in this
memorandum can also apply to situations other than the ones specifically
identified here. For example, IRB Procedure Memorandum 95-6 states the
general rule that if a school fails to meet the deadline for responding
to a Program Review Report, the reviewer is to assess liability for all
Title IV funds received by the institution for the pertinent time
periods. Here again, however, reviewers’ professional judgment may come
into play. To illustrate: A reviewer might decide that, based on the
specific situation involved, requiring the school to repay all Title IV
funds would be too harsh a penalty, and might therefore grant the school
an extension. The central point here is that the principles of
professional judgment detailed in this memorandum are applicable to
situations other than the ones specifically identified.
determination must be based on the specific facts of the
case and the best professional judgment of the reviewer (and
his or her supervisors). To attempt a comprehensive list of
the factors that might influence the reviewers’ discretion
would be futile.