The definition of irony is...

[doc_strange]

Our IRB (Institutional Review Board) has put out a feedback/satisfaction survey. Now, for those of you who have not had the pleasure, an IRB deals with ensuring that research involving human subjects (in this case, in the social sciences) is geared to protect subjects' consent, safety, and privacy, and that there is research/methods oversight by competent and accountable personnel. So, as I say, the IRB has put out a feedback/satisfaction *survey* for its users. Meaning, a survey for the researchers to fill out. Convoluted. Stil with me? Cool.

Ok. So in sum, the IRB sends out a survey.

It's a Word doc. People will fill it out and send it back. You know, a Word doc that the typical naive user will edit and deliver in the prescribed manner. With all metadata intact.


Edit: I mean, some users will deliver it via email; their instructs say to print and postal mail.

Talk among yourselves.

Comments

[holzman.livejournal.com]

I've pointed my father at this.

[docstrange.livejournal.com]

I'm waiting to find out if the intent is to be anonymous. The fact that I didn't know within the first 20-second glance, tells me we have another irony at work, however.

poofy cat icon!

[vokzal.livejournal.com]

This is supposed to be an anon survey? Er...yeah.

Re: poofy cat icon!

[cheesetruck.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

I was lost. I wasn't sure what part of it...

See I don't DO Windows anymore. And I never did PDF. Text, that works for me.

Re: poofy cat icon!

[docstrange.livejournal.com]

Yep to both of you. I'm not sure it's supposed to be anonymous (and it sure won't be with a Word doc; not to mention metadata leakage, edit tracking, etc.). Another normal protocol tenet is that you let your 'subjects' know the shape of the privacy and data use (anonymous, etc.) immediately. I didn't get it from the cover e-mail except that they want to improve the IRB process, which is admirable. But vague. And ironic.

Re: poofy cat icon!

[docstrange.livejournal.com]

Oh, and yeah.. that's Zeke, le poofy chat du maison.

Re: poofy cat icon!

[vokzal.livejournal.com]

oooo poof poof!

[ivy]

Argh. Did you write them a letter explaining the privacy and technical issues behind that? Wiggle privacy laws at them until they realize why this is bad.

[docstrange.livejournal.com]

I did send them a note on the several privacy issues with Word docs. Among the ironies is that the uni uses certified-source-scrubbing web apps for so much else, and even has a proxy for that purpose.

WOAH. Heard back as I was writing this. They do want people to print and post mail it back (that is in the instructinos). I told them they should probably use PDF for that in the future, to strogly encourage printing. So, good intent, ok instructions, but no protection against user 'oops.' I should make "prescribed" "incorrect" in my description above.