MERLOT Research Policy

From time to time, members of the MERLOT management team are contacted by outside researchers wanting to study MERLOT - its users, collection, site, or other facets of the MERLOT community. The following policy and procedures have been developed to facilitate this research while protecting the privacy rights of MERLOT members.

In accordance with the MERLOT Privacy and Acceptable Use policies, outside researchers must be granted permission from the MERLOT Management Team to conduct any research on or about MERLOT. Granting of such permission is based on:

• the merits of the proposed research
• how the research affects our own ongoing or planned research efforts
• potential benefits of the research to MERLOT and its users

MERLOT reserves the right to suspend research should it deem necessary.
All raw data, as well as final reports, must be sent to MERLOT upon completion of any study.

Outside Research Application Process

In order to conduct research about MERLOT, you must:

1. Submit a one-to-two page abstract of your research proposal to Cathy Swift at swift@merlot.org. Clearly outline your methodology and set forth the expectations and the potential benefits of your research. The MERLOT management team will review your abstract and contact you regarding their preliminary decision within two weeks.
2. If MERLOT approves your abstract, you will be asked to submit a fully detailed research proposal that includes your:
   
   
   • Methodology
   • Research questions
   • Timeline
   • Work-plan
   • Drafts of the instrumentation you plan to use
   • Institutional Research Board's (IRB) research protocol application (IRB approval is not necessary at this point in your application process)

   The MERLOT management team will review your detailed proposal and make its final decision within one month of its receipt.

3. If MERLOT approves your detailed research proposal, you may begin your research as soon as:

• MERLOT receives proof of the IRB approval of your research protocol AND
• You receive final MERLOT approval of all research instrumentation, processes, and timeline.

Questions or comments regarding this policy should be sent to webmaster@merlot.org.