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Prepare a Research Survey for IRB Review

Prepare consent, screening, respondent routes, data fields, review links, and documentation for IRB review.

Prepare The Survey For Review

Many academic studies need institutional, ethics, or internal review before launch. Domandata can help reviewers inspect the instrument, respondent paths, consent language, data fields, and export structure before collection begins.

For review, prepare two views of the study: a participant-facing draft link that lets reviewers walk through the survey, and a documentation packet that explains routes, conditions, data fields, incentives, privacy choices, and end screens.

Review Preparation Workflow

  1. Step 1: Finalize the instrument map. Use Design an Academic Survey Instrument to list constructs, measures, treatments, outcomes, and end screens.

    Step 1: Finalize instrument map

  2. Step 2: Check consent and screening. Review Consent and Screening in Research Surveys for participant-facing language and eligibility paths.

    Step 2: Check consent and screening

  3. Step 3: Document experimental routing. Summarize condition arms, assignment rules, and any skip logic.

    Step 3: Document experimental routing

  4. Step 4: Prepare data documentation. Add variable names and recodes and start the codebook.

    Step 4: Prepare data documentation

  5. Step 5: Share a review link. Use draft links for reviewers while the survey is still changing, and tell reviewers which answers trigger each path.

    Step 5: Share a review link

  6. Step 6: Pilot after approval. Run Preview and Pilot Test a Survey before publishing the public link or sending recruitment messages.

    Step 6: Pilot after approval

Include These Details

  • Participant path: consent text, eligibility questions, ineligible language, completion language, and debriefing language.
  • Experimental design: stimuli, media, treatments, random assignment rules, condition labels, and any deception or debriefing materials.
  • Data fields: direct identifiers, indirect identifiers, response variables, recodes, condition assignments, and metadata you plan to export.
  • Privacy handling: which fields are anonymous, which are confidential, who can access exports, and how long data will be retained.
  • Compensation: completion codes, panel redirects, course credit instructions, and what happens when respondents screen out or hit a quota-full path.

Export: Data Output

Reviewer Walkthrough Tips

  • Provide one link or answer sequence for each important Flow path, including ineligible, treatment, control, quota-full, and completion routes.
  • Tell reviewers where sensitive questions appear so they do not miss them during a short walkthrough.
  • Export a test response and include a short note explaining which columns contain identifiers, conditions, and primary outcomes.
  • If you update the survey after review comments, note whether the change is wording-only or affects routing, eligibility, compensation, or exported data.

Related Help

  • Privacy and Anonymity in Research Surveys
  • Survey Incentives and Completion Codes
  • End Screens and Debriefing for Surveys