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research-ethics-irb skill

/plugins/babysitter/skills/babysit/process/specializations/domains/social-sciences-humanities/social-sciences/skills/research-ethics-irb

This skill helps navigate IRB processes and develop ethical consent procedures for human subjects research across social sciences.

npx playbooks add skill a5c-ai/babysitter --skill research-ethics-irb

Review the files below or copy the command above to add this skill to your agents.

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SKILL.md
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---
name: research-ethics-irb
description: Navigate institutional review board processes, informed consent, confidentiality, and ethical considerations in human subjects research
allowed-tools:
  - Read
  - Write
  - Edit
  - Grep
  - Glob
  - Bash
---

# Research Ethics and IRB Skill

Navigate IRB processes and ensure ethical practice in human subjects research across social science disciplines.

## Overview

The Research Ethics and IRB skill enables navigation of institutional review board processes, development of informed consent procedures, maintenance of confidentiality, and ethical practice in human subjects research across social science disciplines.

## Capabilities

### IRB Navigation
- Protocol preparation
- Exemption determination
- Expedited review
- Full board review
- Amendment procedures

### Informed Consent
- Consent document development
- Comprehension verification
- Ongoing consent
- Waiver conditions
- Special populations

### Confidentiality
- Data de-identification
- Secure storage
- Access control
- Certificate of Confidentiality
- Data sharing protocols

### Risk Assessment
- Risk identification
- Risk minimization
- Benefit assessment
- Vulnerable populations
- Monitoring procedures

### Ethical Practice
- Research integrity
- Conflict of interest
- Data management
- Publication ethics
- Community engagement

## Usage Guidelines

### When to Use
- Planning human subjects research
- Preparing IRB submissions
- Developing consent procedures
- Managing data ethically
- Addressing ethical issues

### Best Practices
- Plan ethics early
- Document thoroughly
- Protect participants
- Maintain transparency
- Seek guidance when uncertain

### Integration Points
- Survey Design and Administration skill
- Interview and Facilitation skill
- Ethnographic Research skill
- Qualitative Analysis skill

## References

- All research processes
- Research Ethics Coordinator agent

Overview

This skill helps researchers navigate institutional review board (IRB) processes and apply ethical standards for human subjects research. It supports creation of consent materials, confidentiality plans, and risk mitigation strategies across social science methods. The guidance is practical, compliance-focused, and tuned for common IRB submission pathways.

How this skill works

The skill inspects study designs and maps them to IRB categories (exempt, expedited, full review) and required documentation. It generates or refines protocol sections: purpose, procedures, risks/benefits, recruitment, consent, and data handling. It also identifies special-population considerations, required monitoring, and suggests control measures for confidentiality and data security.

When to use it

  • Planning a new human subjects study and drafting the protocol
  • Preparing or revising an IRB application, consent form, or amendment
  • Designing participant recruitment, screening, or compensation procedures
  • Creating data handling, de-identification, and sharing plans
  • Assessing risk, benefit, and protections for vulnerable populations

Best practices

  • Start ethics planning at study conception and document decisions
  • Write concise, plain-language consent forms and verify comprehension
  • Minimize collection of identifiable data and use strong access controls
  • Define monitoring and reporting procedures for adverse events
  • Disclose conflicts of interest and maintain transparent data management

Example use cases

  • Translate a survey study into an IRB-ready protocol with exemption rationale
  • Draft an informed consent template for interviews with clear confidentiality language
  • Design a data de-identification and secure storage plan for mixed-methods research
  • Prepare an amendment request when adding new procedures or populations
  • Assess risk and mitigation steps for research involving minors or clinical patients

FAQ

Can this skill determine whether my study is exempt?

It provides an evidence-based exemption assessment by comparing your methods to common regulatory categories, but final determination must come from your IRB.

Will it draft consent forms I can submit?

Yes — it generates plain-language consent templates and suggested comprehension checks that you can adapt for IRB submission.

How does it handle vulnerable populations?

It flags additional protections, consent/assent needs, guardian involvement, and monitoring requirements specific to the population you identify.