Protecting data privacy and obtaining informed consent are fundamental to ethical oral history and qualitative research. Informed consent not only fulfills legal and ethical responsibilities but also ensures participants are fully informed about their rights and the scope of their involvement. This tab outlines best practices for safeguarding data privacy and implementing informed consent in research.
It is important to note that each institution, repository, and publisher may have unique standards for privacy and informed consent. Be sure to consult the relevant point person or office for your specific project. If you need consent forms for a Utah State University Fife Folklore Archives-based project, contact the Curator for guidance.
Informed consent is both a process and documentation. It ensures participants are provided with all necessary information to make an educated decision about their participation, including:
Consent must be informed, voluntary, and documented through either written or verbal means.
Informed consent must include the following elements:
Verbal consent is an alternative to written consent, often used in situations where cultural norms, practicality, or the nature of the study make obtaining a signature unnecessary or inappropriate. It ensures participants are fully informed while avoiding the formalities of written documentation.
In some cases, verbal consent may still require supporting documentation:
In some cases, the requirement for written consent can be waived or altered if:
In these cases, researchers must document the steps taken to inform participants and ensure voluntary participation.
Properly storing and securing your research data is crucial to maintaining privacy, ethical integrity, and long-term usability. Whether you are working with audio recordings, transcripts, or sensitive participant information, choosing the right storage solutions will protect your data and ensure compliance with institutional and legal standards. If your institution has a digital stewardship team, be sure to consult them on these matters for expert guidance and support.
Depending on your resources and project needs, consider the following storage options:
External Hard Drives
Cloud Storage
Institutional Repositories
Encrypted USB Drives
Paper Records
Physical Media (e.g., CDs, DVDs, Tapes)
To prevent data loss, follow the "3-2-1" rule for backups:
Redacting Transcripts and Editing Audio:
Retaining the Original Files:
Encrypt sensitive data to protect against unauthorized access:
For data that needs to be preserved beyond the duration of the project:
If you’re working on a Utah State University Fife Folklore Archives project, contact the Curator for guidance on archival storage practices and repository options.
IRB stands for Institutional Review Board. It is a committee established at universities and research institutions to review and approve research involving human subjects. The goal is to ensure that research is ethical, protects participants' rights, and complies with federal and institutional guidelines.
While not all projects require IRB approval, many institutions ask researchers to submit a protocol for review, even if your project seems low-risk or is considered Non-Human Subjects Research (NHSR), such as oral histories.
Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) are designed to protect research participants and ensure ethical standards are met. Whether or not your project requires IRB oversight depends on:
Whether the project qualifies as "human subjects research" (HSR) as defined by your institution and federal guidelines.
Whether the research is intended for public dissemination (e.g., publishing, conference presentation, deposit in a public archive).
Oral history is often considered not human subjects research (NHSR) if its purpose is to document specific individuals’ experiences, rather than to generalize findings. However, most institutions still recommend submitting a brief protocol or determination request to the IRB office for documentation.
Context | IRB Required? | Notes |
---|---|---|
Classroom project only | ❌ Usually No | Talk to your instructor. Students may still need to obtain consent. |
Capstone/thesis/dissertation | ✅ Likely Yes | Submit IRB protocol or get formal NHSR determination. |
Archival deposit/publication | ✅ Yes | Most repositories require ethical clearance and informed consent. |
Check your institution’s guidelines: Each university has its own forms and IRB definitions.
Ask for a “not human subjects research” (NHSR) determination: Especially common in folklore, ethnomusicology, oral histories, and other kinds of qualitatively leaning cultural anthropology.
Err on the side of documentation: Even if IRB isn’t required, documenting your ethical approach builds trust and professionalism.
Utah State University students conducting research for public dissemination should consult the USU IRB Office or their advisor. Students doing fieldwork in partnership with the Fife Folklore Archives should contact the Curator for consent form templates and guidance.