CSUB IRB: Human Subjects Protection Training [HSPT]
Every human subjects research project at CSUB must first be reviewed and then authorized by the CSUB IRB to ensure that the project contains the necessary elements so that when carried out, the persons serving as human subjects will be treated ethically. However, as the project is carried out, it is the researchers associated with that project that actually interact with the human subjects and therefore must implement the ethical practices that the IRB has made sure are in place. At this point, the ethical treatment of subjects is in the hands of project personnel, not the IRB. This is why the key personnel of each project must be trained and certified in HSPT. It is essential that the integrity of the HSPT certification process at CSUB be guarded, given this is how this institution is able to pledge, to the subjects that the IRB protects and to the "outside world," that persons doing human subjects research at CSUB have been adequately trained.
The integrity of the online HSPT tutorial/testing process used at CSUB depends upon each exam representing the understanding of the person whose name is on the exam. This requires that each person completes the exam individually without unauthorized assistance. Otherwise, persons without adequate training may end up engaging in unethical research practices, which would be considered "research misconduct." This is not only wrong in terms of the treatment of persons serving as research subjects, it can lead to federal sanctions.
By accessing the tutorial and exam, I indicate that I understand the requirement that the exam must reflect my own work and affirm that I will work individually in taking the exam.