Research may be eligible for exemption if it falls into:

Research may be eligible for exemption if it falls into one of eight specific categories described in the regulations. These categories outline particular types of research that are considered to pose minimal risk to participants or that meet specific criteria which allow them to be exempt from the usual review process. These categories are established to streamline research that is low-risk or involves benign activities, enabling researchers to proceed without extensive oversight while still adhering to ethical standards.

The distinction of having a defined number of categories is crucial; it allows institutions and researchers to have clear guidelines regarding which studies can be processed more quickly. Thus, the emphasis on the specific number—eight—is key to understanding eligibility for exemption in the context of research regulations.