CERTIFICATION FOR IRB PROFESSIONALS
ACTUAL TEST PAPER WITH VERIFIED
ANSWERS
●● What is the first question when thinking about conducting research
on vulnerable subjects?
Answer: To ask whether the research could include a less vulnerable
population instead, and still answer the research question
●● Vulnerable Populations
Answer: pregnant women, human fetuses, neonates, prisoners, children,
individuals with physical disabilities, individuals with mental disabilities
or cognitive impairments, economically disadvantaged, socially
disadvantaged, terminally ill or very sick, racial or ethnic minorities,
institutionalized persons (correctional facilities, nursing homes, mental
health facilities)
●● Physical control
Answer: subjects who are physically forced to participate in research
●● Coercion
Answer: The use of a credible threat of harm or force to control another
person
, ●● Undue influence
Answer: The misuse of a position of confidence or power to lead or
influence others to make a decision they would not otherwise make
●● Manipulation
Answer: The deliberate design and management of conditions or
information intended to lead subjects to make decision they would not
otherwise make (lying, withholding information, exaggerating)
●● Exploitation
Answer: the action of treating someone unfairly in order to benefit from
them in some way
●● What does vulnerability arise from?
Answer: Intrinsic factors, characteristics, or attributes of the individual
●● Capacity-related cognitive vulnerability
Answer: subjects to some extent lack capacity to make informed choices
●● Situational cognitive vulnerability
Answer: subjects do not lack capacity, but are in situations that do not
allow them to exercise their capacities effectively (distraction or
emergency)
ACTUAL TEST PAPER WITH VERIFIED
ANSWERS
●● What is the first question when thinking about conducting research
on vulnerable subjects?
Answer: To ask whether the research could include a less vulnerable
population instead, and still answer the research question
●● Vulnerable Populations
Answer: pregnant women, human fetuses, neonates, prisoners, children,
individuals with physical disabilities, individuals with mental disabilities
or cognitive impairments, economically disadvantaged, socially
disadvantaged, terminally ill or very sick, racial or ethnic minorities,
institutionalized persons (correctional facilities, nursing homes, mental
health facilities)
●● Physical control
Answer: subjects who are physically forced to participate in research
●● Coercion
Answer: The use of a credible threat of harm or force to control another
person
, ●● Undue influence
Answer: The misuse of a position of confidence or power to lead or
influence others to make a decision they would not otherwise make
●● Manipulation
Answer: The deliberate design and management of conditions or
information intended to lead subjects to make decision they would not
otherwise make (lying, withholding information, exaggerating)
●● Exploitation
Answer: the action of treating someone unfairly in order to benefit from
them in some way
●● What does vulnerability arise from?
Answer: Intrinsic factors, characteristics, or attributes of the individual
●● Capacity-related cognitive vulnerability
Answer: subjects to some extent lack capacity to make informed choices
●● Situational cognitive vulnerability
Answer: subjects do not lack capacity, but are in situations that do not
allow them to exercise their capacities effectively (distraction or
emergency)
