IRB at USC
The USC Office for the Protection of Research Subjects houses the USC IRB. View their pages below for more information on USC IRB processes, contact information, and applications.
If your research will involve clinical sites outside of USC, you may need to have your research plan reviewed by both the USC IRB and the IRB of the specific clinical site.
- iStarUSC uses the iStar system for submitting IRB applications. Go to this page for account creation information.
Data collection tools
- School of Pharmacy Community HubGo to the School of Pharmacy's Community Hub and search for Qualtrics to find up-to-date information for how to sign up for and use Qualtrics.
- REDCapRedCap is provided to all USC affiliates. Follow this link to learn how to sign up. RedCap is compliant with HIPAA regulations, but not 21 CFR Part 11, which describes how records must be kept about access of patient data.
Statistical Analysis tools
- USC ITS Statistical SoftwareUSC ITS licenses various statistical packages for use, including SPSS and SAS.
Data Visualization Tools
Not all these tools are HIPAA-compliant. Investigate where the data will be stored and who will have access before selecting a product to use.
Excel is provided to USC faculty and staff by USC ITS. USC also subscribes to LinkedInLearning a library of training videos. It includes videos on various uses of Excel. If the charts and graphs tutorial doesn't meet your needs, explore LinkedInLearning for another video.
- The R Project for Statistical ComputingA very powerful statistical analysis platform that runs on the command line. Requires a steep learning curve.
- ExhibitExhibit lets you easily create web pages with advanced text search and filtering functionalities, with interactive maps, timelines, and other visualizations
- Google Fusion TablesAn experimental data visualization web application to gather, visualize, and share data tables.
- LinkedIn Learning This link opens in a new windowIncludes a variety of courses covering common statistical and graphing software.
Handbooks and Textbooks
Norris Medical Library owns many other books on designing and conducting studies, including statistical methods to use for data analysis. Search the library catalog for additional titles beyond the recommended titles here.
Pharmacy Research:A How-To Guide for Students, Residents, and New Practitioners by ISBN: 1582122415Publication Date: 2015
Clinical Research: from proposal to implementationCovers IRBs and consent forms
Health Sciences Literature Review Made Easy: The Matrix Method by Publication Date: 2017Health Sciences Literature Review Made Easy: The Matrix Method, Fifth Edition describes the practical and useful methods for reviewing scientific literature in the health sciences. The goal of this text is to serve as a resource for students who need a practical, step-by-step set of instructions for how to organize, conduct, and write a synthesis of literature on a topic of their choice.
Designing and Conducting Health Surveys:a comprehensive guideCall Number: Upper level, WA 20.5 A221d 2006
Statistics and Data Management: a practical guide for orthopaedic surgeonsCall Number: Norris Medical Library, Upper Level, WA 950 S7973 2009Despite its title, this is a readable handbook that succinctly covers data gathering and analysis in health care.
Study Design and Statistical Analysis: a practical guide for cliniciansCall Number: Norris Medical Library, Upper Level, W 20.5 K192s 2006
