Not only the IRB, but the potential or participating subject must calculate a risk to benefit analysis. Each individual subject uses their own common sense, their own vocabulary, and their own prejudices and unspoken fears. They must do this individually. By contrast the IRB must analyze research with human subjects collegially and in the most systematic way it can find.
The first consideration is whether there is any risk. If not, then the IRB does not have to review the proposal. This does not mean there can be no benefit from the research. Except for classroom exercises in which the results of the research are secondary to the experience of conducting the research, no one has the right to engage human subjects just for the fun of it, that is, without there being a legitimate research benefit.
One federal definition of "research" is that the results are intended for publication. By publication it is meant that other researchers in this area are the target audience. Publication by deposit of a thesis document in the University Libary and in University Microfilms (Ann Arbor, MI) also constitutes publication.
A second definition of research is that, although the results can be imagined and hypothesized, they are literally unknown until collected and analyzed. Research both explores and confirms.
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