REB Protocol 0410 (Bridging the Gap: Investigating the Role of GenAI in Building a Culture of Effective Assessment) was approved by the REB on October 22, 2024. The participant recruitment methodology approved by the REB includes the use of the Communiqué to publish a survey link along with an invitation for interested participants to complete this survey.
The first Communiqué posting with a link to the survey was published on Monday, November 11, 2024. The Research Team advised the REB that on November 12, 2024 it discovered that there was a technical issue with this survey link as a result of which participants would have been able to view responses submitted by other participants. Although this would raise data privacy concerns, the REB has been assured that no actual participant data was compromised as no responses had been submitted to the survey.
The Research Team further advised the REB that upon becoming aware of the issue it immediately adopted curative actions. These actions consisted of the creation of a new survey link and the disabling of the previous survey link. Future postings in the Communiqué related to this project will contain the new and secure survey link. The REB is satisfied that as a result of these curative actions, there is now no risk of participant data being compromised.
The REB wishes to note that the actions of the research team in this instance are consistent with best recommended practices. Upon becoming aware of the issue, the team notified the REB and independently adopted the necessary curative actions. The REB commends the team on these efforts and wishes to remind the Humber research community of the importance of constant monitoring of data gathering and data analysis activities in order to ensure that potential problems are quickly identified and addressed. Researchers should, as in the present case, make immediate contact with the REB to advise of any issues experienced during the execution of the research which might create a risk of harm for research participants.
Should any member of the Humber community have questions on this matter, kindly make contact with the Chair, Audel Cunningham at audel.cunningham@humber.ca.