Office of Research Innovation and Sponsored Programs​

Sponsored Programs Office

IRB Office

Department of Research

Dissertation Services Office

College Description

MISSION

The Saybrook Office of Research Innovation and Sponsored Programs advances and promotes research, scholarship, and creative activities through excellent education and training, administrative support, and by cultivating a culture of equity, inclusiveness, transparency, integrity, and rigor. 
 
DESCRIPTION
 
The Saybrook Office of Research Innovation and Sponsored Programs builds research capacity through education, collaboration, and service.  The Office of Research Innovation and Sponsored Programs is comprised of four units: 

The Sponsored Programs Office partners with faculty and students seeking external funding for research, scholarship, and creative activities. The Sponsored Programs Office supports Saybrook researchers through the grant life cycle, from helping identify funding opportunities to proposal development and submissions, award negotiation, management, project extensions, and closures.  The Sponsored Programs Office oversees external grants and contracts in line with federal, state, and local regulations.  

The Institutional Review Board (IRB) ensures that all Saybrook faculty, staff, and students research is designed ethically to protect human participants. Following our federal-wide assurance (FWA# 00014486), the Saybrook IRB committee reviews research to ensure compliance with the requirements of the federal Health and Humans Services (HHS) Protection of Human Subjects regulations (45 CFR 46), state, and local regulations. 

The academic Department of Research provides rigorous, interdisciplinary research instruction to graduate students across Saybrook colleges.  The innovative Saybrook research curriculum is taught by experienced faculty from diverse disciplinary backgrounds and is designed to prepare students to successfully complete research elements in their degree programs, such as the Ph.D. dissertation and master's project, to contribute to their academic careers and change communities. 

The Dissertation Services Office supports doctoral students and dissertation faculty with administrative functions around the dissertation process, including filing petitions to form committees and the documentation of dissertation milestones.

College Specific Policies

Dissertation Policies, Procedures, and Guidelines 
 
Saybrook doctoral dissertation candidates must present a dissertation demonstrating the planning, conduct, and results of original research and scholarly creativity. The dissertation itself should be an evident product of the candidate’s growth and attainment of the ability to identify significant problems contributing to an area of scholarly or scientific interest aligned with the student’s academic degree program. Policies apply across the University yet allow for customization by program and department.  
 
Dissertation Timeline and Process Policy & Procedures 
 
The Dissertation Timeline and Process Policy and Procedures outlines the university processes (i.e., timeline and curriculum) that support and prepare students to complete the dissertation successfully. This policy first highlights the academic coursework dependencies that prepare students for the dissertation. Next, it overviews the qualifying and dissertation phases, including dissertation milestones. Finally, the policy outlines the relationship between the dissertation and degree conferral. Procedures for documenting the student’s dissertation committee and milestones are linked within this policy document, as are diagrams of the dissertation timeline and the dissertation process and milestones. 
 
Dissertation Faculty Policy & Procedures 
 
The Dissertation Faculty Policy and Procedures establishes details on expectations, roles and responsibilities, and expectations of dissertation committee members. This policy also includes the following:   

• Criteria for Dissertation Faculty 
• Student Responsibilities 
• Requirements by Department 
• Process for Forming Dissertation Committee 
• Roles and Responsibilities for Dissertation Chairs and Faculty 
• Committee Members: Methodologist and Reader 
• Supporting Dissertation Faculty 
• Communication, Collaboration, and Conflict Resolution 
• Changing Committee Members 

 
Dissertation Preparation Guides 
 
The Dissertation Readiness Assessment is designed to assist in the conceptualization of students’ proposed dissertation topic and their readiness to complete the work following the advanced research course(s) (refer to your department’s policy). This review is designed to help students evaluate their readiness to proceed with the dissertation and help committee members evaluate the student’s proposed research readiness.  
 
Dissertation Proposal Preparation Guidelines is an instructional guide that describes steps to support students as they prepare and submit their written proposal for their committee members to review.  

Guidelines, Regulations, and Procedures for Research with Humans 

Saybrook University IRB has a Federal Wide Assurance (FWA00014486) and complies with the standards and guidelines of the Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the federal laws (45 CFR 46) pertaining to research involving human participants. All students, faculty, staff, and administrators who conduct research must understand and comply with the Saybrook Institutional Review Board policies, other relevant professional, ethical guidelines, and state and federal laws related to research with human participants. Saybrook University subscribes to the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI Program) to provide education and training related to research ethics to the Saybrook research community. The overarching principles guiding human research as articulated in the Belmont Report: Respect for Persons, Beneficence, and Justice. 

Saybrook Institutional Review Board (IRB) 

All research activities under the auspices and oversight of Saybrook University will go through the IRB process. This includes research practicums, master’s theses, dissertations, faculty, and staff research, including proposed grant research. The review process the Saybrook IRB follows is mandated by federal law (45 CFR 46). The IRB checks for sensitivity, procedures, and safeguards to protect the welfare of the research participants and others involved with the research. Furthermore, the IRB attempts to make its reviews of educational value to students and others conducting research. Until the IRB application and supplemental materials are approved, participant recruitment, data collection, or analysis must not be conducted. 

Student research requires faculty oversight and guidance. Dissertation chairs serve as the primary faculty advisors for student dissertation research, along with dissertation committee members. Student research, including practicums, pilot studies, or master’s theses and projects, must be supervised by faculty as well. Student research submitted to the IRB must include supervising faculty as the co-principal investigator(s). Faculty advisors and all other co-PIs must review all IRB application materials and sign off on the student’s materials before submitting them to the IRB for review in Mentor IRB. If a student has questions about the role of the IRB in the research, they should consult their advising faculty and the Saybrook IRB at irb@saybrook.edu. 

Following federal regulations and institutional policies, the Saybrook IRB verifies that all researchers submitting to the IRB have received human research ethics training within the last three years. Saybrook researchers complete this training through the CITI Program online. All Saybrook researchers must submit their IRB application form and supplemental documents through our online submission system, Mentor IRB. Applications are signed electronically by all investigators within the Mentor IRB system. Saybrook researchers are expected to follow the IRB-approved protocol for research involving human participants. The IRB must approve the IRB application, including supplemental materials, before a researcher begins recruiting participants or collecting data. All research must be conducted in compliance with the IRB-approved application. Any proposed modification to the approved study must be reviewed and approved before initiating the changes to the study. 

Noncompliance, Adverse Events, and Unanticipated Problems 

Information about IRB noncompliance, unanticipated problems, and adverse events can be found under the Resources button in Mentor IRB in the IRB Procedures folder. 

The IRB has the authority to determine corrective actions, including but not limited to requiring study modifications, suspending a study, or terminating a study if the research is not being conducted in accordance with institutional policy and state and federal regulations, or has been shown to result in adverse consequences to human participants, including but not limited to harm to participants or others. 

Saybrook Research Misconduct Policy 

Saybrook University is committed to research integrity by adhering to the highest ethical and moral standards. All Saybrook researchers must propose, conduct, are report research to avoid misconduct. 

Definition of Research Misconduct 

Research misconduct means fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism in proposing, performing, reviewing, or reporting research results. Research misconduct involves the practice of: 

• Making up data or results and recording or reporting them. 
• Manipulating research materials, equipment, or processes, or changing or omitting data or results such that the research conducted is not accurately represented in the research record, including the IRB-approved application and materials. 
• Appropriating another person’s ideas, processes, results, or words without giving appropriate credit. 
• Duplicate publication of data is publishing, as original data, data that have been previously published. This does not preclude republishing data when it is accompanied by proper acknowledgment. 

Research misconduct does not include honest errors or differences of opinion. 

Criteria for Establishing Research Misconduct 

A finding of research misconduct made under this policy requires that: 

• There be a significant departure from accepted practices of the relevant research community; and 
• The misconduct be committed intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly; and 
• A preponderance of the evidence verifies the allegation. 

Rights and Authority of Saybrook’s Institutional Review Board (IRB) in Responding to Research Misconduct 

The IRB determines whether research is conducted in accordance with institutional policy and/or federal and state regulations. The IRB has the authority to determine the appropriate corrective actions for investigators who conduct research out of compliance with institutional policy and federal, state, or other regulations. For information about suspending or terminating research, see the IRB Procedures folder. In addition, for student research misconduct, see the University Catalog and Student Handbook, Academic and School Policies: Student Code of Conduct. 

Faculty Directory

Faculty with research and dissertation expertise are found across Saybrook University. The Department of Research faculty have different disciplinary backgrounds but are all research methodology and design experts. We encourage students to use the faculty directory to locate Saybrook faculty with specific research interests and methodological expertise.

Sponsored Programs Office

​​The Sponsored Programs Office partners with faculty and students seeking external funding for research, scholarship, and creative activities. The Sponsored Programs Office supports Saybrook researchers through the grant life cycle, from helping identify funding opportunities to proposal development and submissions, award negotiation, management, project extensions, and closures.  The Sponsored Programs Office oversees external grants and contracts in line with federal, state, and local regulations. 
 
The Saybrook Sponsored Programs Office can be reached at sponsoredprograms@saybrook.edu.​ 

IRB Office

​​The Saybrook Institutional Review Board (IRB) ensures that all Saybrook faculty, staff, and students research is designed ethically to protect human participants. Following our federal-wide assurance (FWA# 00014486), the Saybrook IRB committee reviews research to ensure compliance with the requirements of the federal Health and Humans Services (HHS) Protection of Human Subjects regulations (45 CFR 46), state, and local regulations.  The Saybrook IRB relies on the three ethical principles from the Belmont Report: 1) Respect for persons, beneficence, and justice. 
 
The Saybrook IRB Office can be reached at irb@saybrook.edu.​ 

Department of Research

Department Description 

The breadth of graduate programs offered through Saybrook University gives the Department of Research a unique opportunity to serve as the only interdisciplinary academic department. Our university-wide curriculum serves the diversity of thought and practice reflected in the academic programs offered through the CSS and the CIMHS. To achieve this, our course learning outcomes purposefully scaffold to research program learning outcomes aligned with psychology, health sciences, mind-body medicine, social work, and transformative social change.  

Master’s and Doctoral research courses engage students in diverse, practice-based learning modalities, including discussion activities, practice activities, and key assignments aligned with multiple course learning outcomes. Course-specific discussion activities encourage critical reflection among peers and faculty. Masters-level research practice activities include locating and evaluating research literature, scholarly writing, and synthesizing literature related to the fields of practice. Doctoral-level research practice activities include research design, literature review development, theoretical/conceptual framework development, research method selection, data collection, analysis, IRB and feasibility considerations, and scholarly writing. Our research curriculum prepares master’s students for a successful thesis or capstone development and doctoral students for dissertation completion and publication.

Values, Mission, and Learning Outcomes 

Department Mission Statement 

The Department of Research is an interdisciplinary academic department committed to excellence in delivering rigorous and innovative student-centered research instruction. We support academic excellence for all students through a pedagogy that appreciates applied research, invites transformational change, and promotes Humanistic values core to the Saybrook mission.  

Values: 

In alignment with the Saybrook mission, the values of the Department of Research include:  

1. We value the diversity of multiple and intersecting perspectives, cultures, and identities of students, faculty, and staff.  
2. We intentionally seek learning opportunities for students that address the equity of access to and participation in research in all communities. 
3. We promote and maintain the core Humanistic tenets of unconditional positive regard, self-responsibility, and self-actualizing potential. 

Program Learning Outcomes

Doctoral Research Program Outcomes 

1. Research Literature - Students demonstrate the ability to identify, critically evaluate, summarize, and synthesize published research in their field.
2. Research Logic and Design - Students demonstrate an understanding of the basic elements of qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-method research, including philosophical assumptions, research design, and specific research methods.  
3. Data Collection - Students identify, assess, and select from various types of data and data collection strategies as part of the review of existing studies or in the design of original research. 
4. Data Analysis - Students identify, assess, and make choices about analysis strategies as part of the review of existing studies or in the design of original research. 
5. Reporting Research - Students critically evaluate reported research and effectively present empirical research for scholarly presentation or publication. 
6. Research Ethics - Students critically evaluate ethical issues in existing research and demonstrate understanding of intellectual property, human subjects protections and referencing research with integrity and in alignment with professional ethical standards. 
7. Research and Practice - Students demonstrate the connection between research and practice. Students explain how research findings inform practice and how practice suggests research topics. 

 
Master’s Research Program Outcomes 

1. Research Literature - Students demonstrate the ability to identify, critically evaluate, summarize and synthesize published research in their field. 
2. Research Logic and Design - Students demonstrate understanding of the basic elements of qualitative, quantitative, and mixed method research. 
3. Data Collection - Students identify and assess various types of data and data collection strategies as part of the review of existing studies. 
4. Data Analysis - Students identify and assess different analysis strategies as part of the review of existing studies. 
5. Reporting Research - Students critically evaluate reported research and effectively present empirical research in the support of scholarly arguments and evidence-based decisions. 
6. Research Ethics - Students critically evaluate ethical issues in existing research, demonstrate understanding of intellectual property, and reference research with integrity and in alignment with professional ethical standards. 
7. Research and Practice - Students demonstrate the connection between research and practice. Students explain how research findings inform practice.

Department Specific Policies

Recommendations

To support the mission of academic excellence, rigor, and student success, the Department of Research recommends that students not take more than one research course per term, even when prerequisites are completed. Students requesting exceptions must consult with their Department Chair and the Department of Research to discuss multiple research course enrollment. 

Assignment Late Policy

To support students’ successful course completion, the Department of Research has the following policy for assignment submission. 
Every assignment is due by 11:59 pm PT on the due date specified in the syllabus and Canvas. Any assignment submitted late without prior approval from the instructor will be marked down 10% per additional day past the due date until the assignment is submitted. Assignments submitted one week or more after the due date specified will not be graded and receive a 0. No assignments due on the last day of the course will be accepted after the due date. The instructor will work to be fair and accommodating with students who seek prior approval.

Students who seek prior approval to submit an assignment late will not automatically receive it.

Dissertation Services Office

​​The Dissertation Services Office supports doctoral students and dissertation faculty with administrative functions around the dissertation process, including filing petitions to form committees and the documentation of dissertation milestones.   
 
The Saybrook Dissertation Services Office can be reached at dissertationservices@saybrook.edu.​