Is your project considered research?
Federal regulations
define research as “a systematic investigation including development, testing,
and evaluation, designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge”
(45 CFR 46. 102(d)).
Research involves a formal research plan (protocol) involving a stated objective with a set of procedures
to reach that objective. In other words, research is a systematic investigation using a scientific method to
obtain knowledge or contribute to knowledge in a particular field.
All subjects or their legal representative (for example, if children are the subjects) have a legal right to
know their rights and to fully understand what is expected of them if they voluntarily agree to participate
in the projects.
Another consideration regarding what constitutes research is: will the data will be presented or published
(for example, UNK’s Student Research Day, state, regional, or national conferences)? If “yes,” your
study would likely be considered “research.”