The professor writing a biography about Bill Gates and conducting oral histories with his friends, family, and business acquaintances can expect the Institutional Review Board (IRB) to review the research proposal. This is because the project involves human subjects-living individuals providing information through interaction with the researcher-and meets the federal definition of research as a systematic investigation aimed at contributing to generalizable knowledge. Therefore, the IRB will assess the ethical aspects of the study, including informed consent and confidentiality protections, to ensure the rights and welfare of participants are safeguarded

. In summary:

• The IRB will review the study because it involves human subjects and qualifies as research.
• The review will focus on ethical considerations such as participant consent and privacy.
• The project is not exempt from IRB oversight simply because it is a biography or oral history.

This aligns with federal regulations and institutional policies requiring IRB approval for research involving human subjects obtained through interaction or identifiable private information