How does the University Survey Policy affect email recruitment for research on GS campus?

The GS survey distribution policy requires an institutional approval beyond the IRB approval for research that specifically distributes recruitment for research participants via the Georgia Southern email system. Where the GS email system will be used to distribute research recruitment requests, a condition of your IRB approval will be to obtain the required approval to use the GS email system to distribute your research recruitment. This includes recruitment sent to GS listservs as well as targeted GS email addresses.

For survey distribution and research recruitment to Georgia Southern emails, AFTER you have received IRB approval you must receive additional institutional approval.  Please visit the Office of Institutional Research’s website for Survey Distribution Approval Procedures.

Marketing surveys still require compliance with the survey policy even though IRB approval is not required for surveys where the data will only be used internally to evaluate the effectiveness of your service.

Survey Distribution Website: https://em.georgiasouthern.edu/ir/survey-distribution-approval-procedure/

Find the Survey Distribution Policy on Georgia Southern Commons.

Last updated: 1/16/2025