In the aftermath of Dr. Feng's research two research associates complained to the IRB that their rights as human subjects had been violated. The IRB received the complaints and discussed the matter further within itself. It was concluded and reported to the complainants that since there was no physical, medical, psychological, or reputation risk to the primary Human Subjects, there was no risk to the research associates as human subjects. The data taken from their different behaviors was not aggregated with data obtained from the mall pedestrians, but rather used to qualify that data.
The monitoring of research associates is a normal and necessary task inherent in the research, and this necessity requires no more notification or consent than is normally provided in the process of hiring, namely that employees are under evaluation.
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