What action should a researcher take if they suspect that an unanticipated problem has occurred?

When a researcher suspects that an unanticipated problem has occurred, it is vital to report it to the Institutional Review Board (IRB) in a timely manner. This is because the IRB is responsible for ensuring the protection of human subjects involved in research and is tasked with overseeing the ethical conduct of studies. Reporting such issues promptly allows the IRB to assess the nature and implications of the problem, providing necessary guidance on how to mitigate risk to participants and making any necessary adjustments to the study protocol.

Timely reporting is crucial because it helps to ensure participant safety, maintain compliance with ethical regulations, and uphold the integrity of the research process. If researchers were to document the issue but not report it immediately, assess the situation without consulting the IRB, or wait for the next scheduled meeting, they could potentially put participants at risk and fail to address issues that could affect the research's ethical standing. Thus, reporting unanticipated problems promptly aligns with the best practices in research ethics and participant safety.