Exemptions of the Common Rule (Cont.)

Does this mean that all questionnaire, educational test, and interview-based studies are exempt?

Such studies may be exempt UNLESS:

• Specific individual human subjects can be identified (i.e., their names, telephone numbers or other unique identifiers are recorded in the data)

AND disclosure of their identity could place them at risk of:

• criminal/civil liability, or
• damage to their financial standing, employability, or reputation

When the subjects are public officials or candidates for public office, the research is exempt even when identifiers are included or disclosure might be harmful. However, all research should be bound by professional ethics and respect for respondents to guard their privacy whether or not the research is exempt (unless the participants understand that their information may be made public and permission is granted).