Ethical Treatment of Participants

General Policy

MTSM does not approve or allow students to engage in research involving human subjects. All student research is limited to scholarly and journalistic activities, as defined in 45 CFR 46.102(l)(1). Non-research activities, such as field experiences and ministry projects, do not involve members of the public as human research subjects, as defined in §46.102(e)(1). MTSM reviews all student research and project proposals to ensure the methodology and scope do not trigger the regulations required by 45 CFR 46.

Research

Student research is limited to academic theological research and does not involve human participants (§46.102(l)(1)). Student proposals for research are approved by a thesis advisor and the Dean of the School of Theology. All thesis proposals must be limited to academic research; no proposals involving human research subjects are approved.

Field Experiences

In certain programs, MTSM students may interact with members of the public as part of a field experience. During these experiences, students are monitored by a site supervisor and do not engage in any activities beyond the regular scope of the services provided by the organization and its staff or volunteers (§46.117(c)). The students do not obtain information from individuals for future use, study, or analysis. No identifiable private information is collected (§46.102(e)(1)).

The expectations and activities of the field experiences are determined and approved prior to student participation. Additionally, MTSM staff maintain regular communication with students and site supervisors to ensure student interaction with the public conforms to the expectations of individuals’ safety, well-being, and privacy.

Projects in Ministry

Students in Lay Ecclesial Ministry programs complete a project in ministry in which they carry out an event or initiative at a local ministry site. During these projects, students are monitored by a site supervisor and do not engage in any activities beyond the regular scope of the services provided by the organization and its staff or volunteers (§46.117(c)). The students do not obtain any personal information from individuals for future use, study, or analysis. No identifiable private information is collected (§46.102(e)(1)).

Students may collect survey data from participants as a means to determine specific needs of the ministry site or to evaluate the success of their project. No information is collected from which the identity of participants can be ascertained, nor is any information collected that would damage the participants’ financial standing, employability, educational advancement, or reputation (§46.104(d)(2)). Only data and observations relevant to the effectiveness and success of the ministry project are collected; personal information from participants is not collected for use in future study or analysis.

The expectations and activities of the projects are determined prior to student participation. The project scope and methodology are reviewed by an Advisory Board that includes MTSM staff, the site supervisor, representatives from the ministry site, and other ministry professionals. The Advisory Board ensures that only anonymous questionnaires and/or public observation are the methods used to gather information from participants, and that no identifiable private information is collected. The activities of the project must be benign and carry no reasonable potential for harm for the participants (§46.104(d)(3)). MTSM staff ensure that student interaction with the public conforms to the expectations of individuals’ safety, well-being, and privacy.