So your study is done, your dissertation is written, and you’re gearing up for graduation and bigger and better things now that you’ve completed this part of your education. It’s a busy and exciting time for you, we know, but we do have one last piece of research-related advice for you — you’re not really out of here until you log into CLARA and close your completed study.
Yes, it’s true, if you ignore your study long enough, it will eventually die (i.e. be administratively closed) in CLARA, but it’s really in your best interest to actively close it before you leave. Once it’s closed, you won’t get any more reminder emails from CLARA about, say, submitting continuing reviews. And, best of all, a closed study is not subject to audit. Any study that’s open before the IRB can be selected for a routine audit. So take yourself out of that potential pool by spending a few minutes filling out the “study closure” form in CLARA.
And a word to faculty advisors — please remember to remind your students, as they wind up their academic careers, to actively close their studies. They’re new to this whole research thing and are counting on your good advice to help them learn the ins and outs of the field.
And this is good advice to anybody working in research,not just students — please please please close studies that you have finished.