Cold Calling Policy

The University of Iowa IRB strongly discourages “cold-calling” potential research subjects. Cold-calling occurs when investigators or research team members, who are unknown to the potential research subjects, make contact with potential subjects based on their prior knowledge of private information (e.g. medical or education records).

In accordance with VAHCS Handbook 1200.05 Section 9 Investigator Responsibilities (n)(1) (pg 30), cold-calling is strictly prohibited.  Researchers are required to make initial contact with potential VAHCS research subjects either in person and/or by letter prior to any telephone contact.   

The University of Iowa IRB allows the use of random-digit dialing for telephone surveys or polling. Random-digit dialing for telephone surveys or polling is acceptable as a sampling method because it uses publicly available information and this method is widely used for statistical surveys, including opinion polling.  This differs from cold-calling in that the call is initiated based on publically available information rather than prior knowledge of private information.