Instructions for Protocol Materials [1]
The IRB must determine whether or not the proposed compensation does in fact promote voluntary participation, is equitable, and does not present unnecessary or unacceptable risk of harm/negative consequences to participants. To make this determination, the IRB needs details about what, when, and how compensation will be provided. Additionally, the IRB needs to see how this information will be conveyed to participants during the recruitment and consent processes. This section explains what information must be provided in the Research Plan, as well as guidance for the development of the recruitment and consent processes.
The Research Plan
Section D - Research Population and Recruitment Methods
- Describe the amount/value and method of the payment (i.e., cash, gift card, course credit, etc.), and how and when compensation will be provided.
- Explain why compensation is being provided as well as why the amount being offered is appropriate for (1) the subject population; (2) what is being asked of the participants; and (3) the cultural/social/political context of the research.
- Explain whether or not partial compensation will be offered - in other words, will participants who complete only some tasks or terminate participation prior to study completion receive any compensation at all, if so, how much?
- It may be appropriate to reimburse participants if they are asked to incur costs (e.g., parking). If participants are asked to incur costs, the extent and nature of these costs must be clearly stated. If they will be reimbursed for some or all of these costs, the details of reimbursement should be explained, and in a way that differentiates the reimbursement from other forms of compensation (e.g., compensation for task completion, bonuses for study completion, extra credit, etc.).
- If compensation is in the form of course credit or extra credit, describe the alternative activities available for students not participating in the research.
- Compensation may take the form of a chance to win money or a prize in a “drawing” (e.g. a drawing for a $20 UO Duck Store gift card). Given that the terms “lottery” and “raffle” have specific meaning under state laws that typically do not apply to compensation for participation in research, researchers should use the term “drawing” in the protocol, recruitment, and consent materials. Additionally, a person’s chances of winning the drawing should be conveyed to the participant.
Section F- Provisions for Subject Privacy and Data Confidentiality
- Explain what personally identifiable information will be used to provide the compensation, and how that information will be stored and secured; who has access to it; and when it will be destroyed.
- When applicable, retention of identifiable information for compliance with the UO’s Business Affairs Office’s (BAO) policy should also be explained. See section below for additional information.
Recruitment Materials
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The recruitment materials may include information that compensation will be provided; however, information regarding compensation should not detract from important information participants need to consider in order to fully understand the study.
Consent Materials
The consent materials must contain the following information:
- The amount/value and method of the payment (i.e., cash, gift card, course credit, etc.), and how and when compensation will be provided.
- Whether or not partial compensation will be offered, and if so, how much.
- If participants will be reimbursed for some or all of any costs associated with participation in the research, the details of reimbursement should be explained, and in a way that differentiates the reimbursement from other forms of compensation that may be offered.
- If compensation is a chance to win money or a prize in a “drawing” (e.g. a drawing for a $20 UO Duck Store gift card), the person’s chances of winning should be conveyed.
- See UO’s BAO Research Subject Payment Process [2] and include the applicable suggested consent language regarding taxable income reporting requirements.