Not necessarily full approval by an IRB, but many people have noted that since this this is a sensitive topic concerning a vulnerable population it would be wise to use an ethical approach designed to protect participants. IRBs provide one such model to follow. Journalism has similar procedures for protection of sources. 

You are right that if going through an IRB approval, there would be a need for more explicit statements of research purpose. Not necessarily a question but a well-articulated goal. An exploratory study of a topic like sexual harassment can be difficult to get passed unless there is a lot of caution demonstrated for protecting the participants.

At the least, the following points have been listed as high importance:

1. Clear identification and contact information of the researcher 
2. A statement of anonymization practices and protocols in both the data collection instruments AND in reporting
3. A statement of how the data we will be used including if direct quotes will be used
4. Data retention and sharing policies with other researchers

Katherine Deibel | PhD
Inclusion & Accessibility Librarian
Syracuse University Libraries 
T 315.443.7178
[log in to unmask]
222 Waverly Ave., Syracuse, NY 13244
Syracuse University

-----Original Message-----
From: Code for Libraries <[log in to unmask]> On Behalf Of Sarah Green
Sent: Wednesday, July 3, 2019 10:34 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [CODE4LIB] Note [administratativia]

A couple of people have mentioned that this project needs approval by an IRB. I do not believe this is true---correct me if I'm wrong, but I think Sunni would have needed to be more systematic in her investigation and have included a real research question, not just an intention to raise awareness.

Sarah

On Wed, Jul 3, 2019 at 9:04 AM Jenn C <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> As also not official, let me say that the vagueness of identity, lack 
> of research oversight and inclusion of transphobia in your "piece" 
> makes every concern about this article legitimate.
>
> I do not apologize.
>
> On Wed, Jul 3, 2019 at 8:22 AM Craig Boman <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> > Dear Sunni,
> >
> > On behalf of the leaderless Code4lib community, for which I have no 
> > authority to represent, please allow us to apologize. In my short 
> > time participating in Code4lib it has been clear to me that Code4lib 
> > has been
> a
> > place to talk about gender issues in library coding communities 
> > <https://code4lib.org/c4l18-keynote-statement/>. It has been a place 
> > to discuss diversity and inclusion in library coding communities 
> > <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWLSbIj4JjA>. As others have 
> > stated, I would like to reiterate that Code4lib is certainly a place 
> > to talk about sexual harassment within our technology perspectives; 
> > we are not sweeping this under the rug. Although this was not your 
> > first time posting to our listserv, we welcome and encourage your 
> > ongoing participation. We may not always get it right, but we hope to learn.
> >
> > Sincerely,
> > Craig
> >
> > (he/him/his)
> > Craig Boman, MLIS (Ph.D. student)
> > Discovery Services Librarian and
> > Assistant Librarian
> > Miami University Libraries
> >
> > 302 King Library
> > [log in to unmask]
> > ORCID ID: 0000-0001-7511-4078
> >
> > "There is no education as that which comes from participation in the 
> > constant stream of events." - Jane Addams (1902, p. 93) Craig Bowman
> Craig
> > Bauman
> >
> > On Tue, Jul 2, 2019 at 7:38 PM Mike Giarlo <[log in to unmask]>
> wrote:
> >
> > > Code4Lib has always been home both to technical and social
> conversations
> > > (and everything in between). The mailing list blurb may not 
> > > effectively convey this, but this has been true for over 12-13 
> > > years in my
> > experience.
> > > Discussions of what Code4Libbers can do to increase awareness of 
> > > sexual harassment in our world is *not* off-topic.
> > >
> > > What is off-topic, and off-base, is some of the inappropriate ad
> hominem
> > > remarks in this thread that may have a chilling effect on the
> discussion.
> > > We all play a part in making Code4Lib a welcoming place, and I'm 
> > > sorry
> > that
> > > not all of us have lived up to that.
> > >
> > >
> > > --
> > > Mike Giarlo
> > >
> > > Software Engineer & Architect
> > >
> > > Digital Library Systems & Services
> > >
> > > Stanford Libraries
> > >
> > > ________________________________
> > > From: Code for Libraries <[log in to unmask]> on behalf of 
> > > Edward Almasy <[log in to unmask]>
> > > Sent: Tuesday, July 2, 2019 15:09
> > > To: [log in to unmask]
> > > Subject: Re: [CODE4LIB] Note [administratativia]
> > >
> > > On Jul 2, 2019, at 1:03pm, Monica Westin 
> > > <[log in to unmask]>
> > > quoted:
> > > > *This mailing list provides a forum for discussion all things
> relating
> > > to programming code for libraries. This is a place to discuss
> particular
> > > programming languages, but also provides a place to discuss the 
> > > issues
> of
> > > programming in libraries in general*
> > >
> > > I think discussion about sexual harassment issues is crucial, in 
> > > the library world and throughout our society, but it seems to me a 
> > > stretch
> to
> > > construe the above as having been intended to include it.
> > >
> > > One solution, used by some other communities, would be to create a 
> > > new "sister" list, named something like CODE4LIB-COMMUNITY, for 
> > > discussion
> of
> > > non-technical topics important to the Code4Lib community.
> > >
> > > Ed
> > >
> > >
> > > --
> > > Edward Almasy <[log in to unmask]> Director  •  Internet Scout 
> > > Research Group Computer Sciences Dept  •  U of Wisconsin - Madison
> > > 1210 W Dayton St  •  Madison WI 53706  •  3HCV+J6
> > > 608-262-6606 (voice)  •  608-265-9296 (fax)
> > >
> >
>