How do I know whether or not I need to get Human Subjects approval for my research project?

Review and approval by the HSC (Human Subjects Committee) is required before starting research involving human subjects.

Any UCSB faculty, staff or student doing research that involves Human Subjects must have either Human Subjects approval, or an exemption, for the research results to be published in any form including theses and dissertations. This includes pilot studies (even if it involves just one subject), funded or unfunded research, and research on yourself, your staff, your students, or your friends. "Human Subject" means a living individual about whom an investigator (whether professional or student) conducting research obtains: (a) data through intervention or interaction with the individual or (b) identifiable private information.

Please see our Human Subjects page for further information.