Ed, You're now misinterpreting your own posts. That's an OR in there not an AND. 4. Research involving the collection or study of existing data, documents, records . . . if these sources are publicly available or if the information is recorded by the investigator in such a maner that subjects cannot be identified Marj Dr Marjorie Kibby, Senior Lecturer in Communication & Culture Faculty of Education and Arts The University of Newcastle, Callaghan NSW 2308 Australia Marj.Kibby@newcastle.edu.au +61 2 49216604

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Ed Lamoureux <ell@bumail.bradley.edu> 08/12/07 10:06 PM >>> On Aug 11, 2007, at 11:54 PM, Marj Kibby wrote: Doesn't this say clearly that if the blog (publicly available) already exists before your study begins, and was not set up for the purpose of your study then it is exempt? Marj

Yes as along as the data set is "finished" before IRB review . . . HOWEVER, that's under the condition that the data cannot be tracked back to the individual.