Protecting Human Research Participants
Researchers in applied linguistics are often required to show that their proposed research protects will not harm (whether psychologically, socially, or physically) any human subjects who may be involved in their studies. Many universities have Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) that examine research proposals to make sure that due care has been taken to protect the rights and health of human beings involved in such studies as research subjects.
If you have questions about this issue, there is a useful resource that can help you understand concerns about research on human subjects. The US National Institutes of Health (NIH) offers a free online training program about “Protecting Human Research Participants.”
The training is available in both Spanish and English. There are a total of seven modules, which can be completed in increments, but you must complete an entire module before exiting the program, or your work will not be properly saved. There are quizzes after four of the modules. If you do poorly on a quiz, you can retake it.
When you complete the seven modules and pass the required quizzes, you can print a certificate showing that you successfully completed the course. Although the course is more directly related to medical and psychological research than to applied linguistics investigation, much of it is applicable to studies in our field.
To undergo the free online training, click here.
