In the United States, there are two determinations to be made: Is it research, and does it involve human participants.

"Research" is something designed to generate knowledge, and something can be research but not involve human subjects (as is the case with meta-analysis, where there is literally no contact between the researcher and the participants in the original studies). The Office of Human Research Protections (OHRP) of the federal government provides the official definitions for IRBs nationwide. Please refer to OHRP for guidance, their web pages are easy to find and navigate.

Any survey would count as research. And if you conducted the survey with living people then it involves human subjects. Thus, both of those determinations stated at top have been answered in the affirmative, and IRB review is needed. The fact that the survey is anonymous does not eliminate the need for IRB review, but the survey would likely be considered exempt (AFTER it goes through IRB review)

Thanks a lot, Evan Harrington for sharing the detailed info.

Best,

Faizan S.