From an e-mail from PRIM&R regarding the "New platform for IRB Forum":
[quote]For your convenience, the old IRB Forum platform will remain live through at least January 10, 2021, though threads will be frozen as of December 10. During this time, we encourage you to explore past posts and take screenshots of any specific discussions you’d like to have for easy access.[/quote]
Take screenshots? Funny. Why don't the powers that be just move the data from the old database into the new one so we all continue to have searchable access to the collective wisdom shared on this board over many years?
Alan Stockdale
astockdale@edc.org
The email I received yesterday didn't mention anything about having access to the current forum archives after January 10 next year, and this morning as I was groggily waking up I was literally thinking of starting a forum post asking for everyone's favorite old threads/posts to try to get a relatively fresh archive of most popular/useful discussions.
My top post was going to be Jeff Cooper's wry comment in "[url=https://www.irbforum.org/read.php?3,58269]Exempt determination not good enough for a foundation?[/url]" from May 2015, prior even to the NPRM coming out:
[quote="Theresa,
I agree with Dean. The usual reason for this behavior is not reading the regulations. Many believe that research on novel educational strategies cannot be exempt #1, that survey research that collects sensitive information cannot be exempt #2, that retrospective chart review research that identifiers cannot be exempt #4, or that research that involves vulnerable populations cannot be exempt. These criteria come from oral tradition instead of reading the regulations. Do a Google on IRB exemption policies and see for yourself.
Many of the problems of \"regulatory burden\" raised in the OHRP ANPRM would be solved by following the regulations as they are written. There is a sad irony in the idea that this problem can be fixed by changing the regulations."]
[/quote]
Oh well, guess having easy access long-term will prevent us from collectively amassing our favorites and sharing them this week. No big loss.
I didn't even join IRB Forum until 2018, and I have found the archive enormously useful. So glad it will be continue to be accessible.
Jon, will you continue to be around and participate? I don't even know the amount of work you have put in here, but I for one have been both grateful for your minor edits of my posts and of others, and moreover for your ready contributions to these discussions!
thanks for the bon mots Dan.... i will be on the new list, but i will not have a moderator role... 18 years is enough. i should thank Skip Nelson for his innovation in starting the Forum, and for trusting me when he turned his baby over to me in early 2003. it's been a great run, and i've appreciated the educational aspects, the opportunity to help the community, and the chance to get to 'meet' everyone over the years. ;-)
the new list will not be moderated as was the Forum, though volunteer moderators will be available to deal with posts flagged as being problematic.
hi, as noted in the PRIMR email, there will be a downloadable flat text file of the entire Forum discussion content, which will be quite searchable.
file download will of course be subject to the confidentiality assurances (e.g., necessity for securing consent from any individual before quoting them from Forum content) of this list and the forthcoming PRIMR list...
Jon Merz Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> hi, as noted in the PRIMR email, there will be a
> downloadable flat text file of the entire Forum
> discussion content, which will be quite
> searchable.
>
> file download will of course be subject to the
> confidentiality assurances (e.g., necessity for
> securing consent from any individual before
> quoting them from Forum content) of this list and
> the forthcoming PRIMR list...
Jon,
The e-mail I received didn't include any mention of a downloadable flat text file of the entire Forum archive. That would be good.
I second Dan's expression of gratitude for all the work you have put into maintaining this Forum over the years. The Forum has been an invaluable resource. Thanks.
Alan Stockdale
astockdale@edc.org
The following was probably posted to the IRB Forum main page after Dan and Alan's posts here, but for anyone who missed it:
[quote="For your convenience, the old IRB Forum platform will remain live through at least January 10, 2021, though threads will be frozen as of December 10.[u]Past message threads from the IRB Forum will be preserved on the new platform in an IRB Forum Library[/u], but you are also welcome to explore past posts and take screenshots of any specific discussions you’d like to save before the move. After January 10, we will retire the old forum site and redirect irbforum.org to the PRIM&R Online Community site."]
[/quote]
This (the threads being preserved) is good news. It has been an invaluable resource. Not having a dedicated moderator (and Jon Merz in particular) will be a loss, but forum contributions from you knowledgeable veterans will continue to be a useful source of information. Thank you all.
James