Questions: What best describes the purpose of the IRB? To review proposals for research that involves human participants. To ensure that new research meaningfully adds to the scientific literature. To review operational definitions in experiments. To ensure that every research proposal has a clear and falsifiable hypothesis.

The answer is A: To review proposals for research that involves human participants.

Explanation for each option:

A. To review proposals for research that involves human participants.

• This is the correct answer. The Institutional Review Board (IRB) is primarily responsible for reviewing research proposals to ensure the ethical treatment and protection of human participants. The IRB evaluates factors such as informed consent, risk to participants, and the overall ethical conduct of the research.

B. To ensure that new research meaningfully adds to the scientific literature.

• This is incorrect. While the IRB may consider the potential benefits of research, its primary focus is on the ethical treatment of participants rather than the contribution to scientific literature.

C. To review operational definitions in experiments.

• This is incorrect. Reviewing operational definitions is typically part of the research design process and is not the primary focus of the IRB. The IRB's main concern is the ethical implications of the research.

D. To ensure that every research proposal has a clear and falsifiable hypothesis.

• This is incorrect. While having a clear and falsifiable hypothesis is important for scientific research, it is not the primary concern of the IRB. The IRB's main role is to ensure the ethical treatment of human participants in research.