AUTHORS' INSTRUCTIONS
IRB: Ethics & Human Research is a peer-reviewed journal that publishes scholarly articles and columns offering insight on issues of critical importance to research with human subjects, including findings and analyses of empirical studies. Manuscripts are typically 3500 words (text, references, tables, and figures), though we welcome longer and shorter pieces. References should be to the most pertinent and up-to-date sources. Manuscripts may be placed in one of the following columns, particularly pieces from 1000-1500 words. "Insight" emphasizes theoretical and conceptual concerns; "In the Field" identifies and assesses institutional, national, and international policy developments; "Case Study" focuses on specific research studies, ethical dilemmas, and IRB policies and deliberations; "The Participant" offers personal reflections about the human research enterprise. Final decision for placement of all manuscripts resides with the editor.
Manuscripts are considered with the understanding that they are not under consideration elsewhere and that they represent original work that has not been published previously in any format. Manuscripts should be prepared and submitted according to the requirements in the Author Submission Checklist.
AUTHOR SUBMISSION CHECKLIST
Submit one copy of the manuscript, including the materials listed below, as an email attachment in rich text format (*.rtf) to editorial@thehastingscenter.org. Manuscripts will be acknowledged on receipt. Please specify that the manuscript is being submitted to IRB: Ethics & Human Research.
Cover Letter. A brief cover letter should acknowledge submission of the manuscript. Authors must confirm that the manuscript or any of its content, including tables and figures, have not been published elsewhere or are not in press at another publication.
Manuscript Cover Page. A separate cover page should include:
- Title of Manuscript.
- Estimated word count (inclusive of references, tables, etc.).
- Contact author's name, professional title, institutional affiliation, mailing address, telephone and fax numbers, email address.
- Co-authors' names, professional titles, and institutional affiliations.
- Acknowledgments. Individuals who did not contribute to the work as authors should be named in the Acknowledgments with a description of the assistance they provided. Authors must disclose all financial support for the research and development of the manuscript.
- Human Subjects Protection Statement. If research was conducted with human participants, a statement is required indicating that an institutional review board (IRB) approved the study. If IRB approval was not obtained, an explanation must be provided.
Conflict of Interest Form. Submit the completed COI form for each author with the manuscript. The COI form is available at www.thehastingscenter.org/pdf/publications/irb_conflict_of_interest.pdf
Abstract. Submit an abstract of 150 words or less and 4-6 key words for indexing purposes.
Manuscript. Manuscripts are blind reviewed. Author identification should
be removed from the text and references. This can be accomplished by referring
to your work in the third person, and citing the references in the usual manner
(do not delete your name from the references). The review period will be approximately
10-12 weeks. Manuscripts recommended for publication may be subject to revisions,
additional review, and standard copyediting. Manuscripts will not be returned
to authors. Copyright is transferred to The Hastings Center upon acceptance.
References. IRB uses a modified Vancouver style for manuscripts and references. Articles accepted for publication must conform to the modified style shown below when submitted for final formatting into galleys.
- References should be enumerated consecutively as endnotes that appear at the end of the text. Please try to limit the number of cited works in each endnote to the three most important and/or most useful sources. See below for how to refer to multiple references1 and how second and subsequent citations to a work should be referenced in the endnote section.2
- References should be numbered consecutively in the order in which they are first mentioned in the text with the superscript embedded in the text and the full citation appearing at the end of the manuscript. Please try to limit the number of cited works to the three or four most important and/or most useful sources.
- Journal titles are always spelled out in full, except BMJ, JAMA, NEJM.
- Direct quotations from sources should be referenced with the specific
page number on which the quoted passage occurs.
Articles in Journals
One author
Crouch RA. Open label extension studies & the ethical design of clinical
trials. IRB: Ethics & Human Research 2001;23(4):6-8.
More than three authors
Lara PN, Higdon R, Lim N, et al. Prospective evaluation of cancer clinical
trial accrual patterns: Identifying potential barriers to enrollment. Journal
of Clinical Epidemiology 1998;51:69-79.
Books and other Monographs
Author(s)
Stokes DE. Pasteur's Quadrant: Basic Science and Technological Innovation.
Washington, D.C.: Brookings Institution Press, 1997.
Editor(s), compiler(s) as author
Annas GJ, Glantz LH, Katz BF, eds. Informed Consent to Human Experimentation:
The Subject's Dilemma. Cambridge, Mass.: Ballinger, 1977.
Organization as author and publisher
National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and
Behavioral Research. The Belmont Report: Ethical Principles and Guidelines
for the Protection of Human Subjects of Research. Washington, D.C.: Government
Printing Office, 1979.
Book Chapter
Lederer SE, Grodin MA. Historical overview: Pediatric Experimentation. In:
Grodin MA, Glantz LH. Children as Research Subjects: Science, Ethics, and
Law. New York: Oxford University Press, 1994, p. 3-28.
Web Sites
World Medical Association. Declaration of Helsinki. (October 2000). http://www.wma.net/e/policy/17-c_e.html.
1. Annas GJ, Glantz LH, Katz BF. Informed Consent to Human Experimentation: The Subject's Dilemma. Cambridge, Mass.; Lara PN, Higdon R, Lim N, et al. Prospective evaluation of cancer clinical trial accrual patterns: Identifying potential barriers to enrollment. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology 1998;51:69-79.
2. See ref. 1, Lara et al., 1998.