>I would be interested in hearing if anyone has had any experience with
>research involving electronic talk and interactions on bulletin boards,
>officially called "Internet relay-chat".  Specifically, I would like to know
>about informed consent and confidentiality issues, and also legal questions.
>Since the conversations are publicly available, can consent be waived?  I
>have a researcher interested in recording topics discussed, the frequency,
>and parts of actual communication without recording names or nicknames used.
>Does this research require IRB approval?
>
>Thanks
>
>Ellen
I would want to know the purpose of the research and the hypothesis for
doing it before I would comment on the confidentiality issue.

Mary Spijkerman
Director of Sponsored Programs
Baylor Research Institute
3812 Elm Street
Dallas, Texas  75226
(214)  820-2687
Fax:  (214) 820-4952
xxxxxx@onramp.net