Participants must have enough information to make an informed decision whether to participate in the research study. If participants cannot give informed consent, it must be obtained from their legal representatives. For example, when subjects are minors (under 18) or when they are mentally incapacitated, consent from a legal representative (such as a parent or legal guardian) is required. Consent documents must be clearly written in plain language so participants can fully understand the implications of participating. Scientific, medical, and technical terms should be avoided if possible or, if they must be included, clearly defined in simple language.
Informed Consent Checklist
The consent form must be expressed in clear, simple language that participants can easily understand.
Be sure to include these elements in your consent form or script:
Be sure to include these elements in your consent form or script:
- The name of the researcher and his or her institutional and departmental affiliation
- A statement that this is a research activity (e.g., use the word “experiment”)
- A description of the purpose of the study
- An explanation for why the participant has been invited to participate
- An explanation of what the participant is expected to do
- A statement about how long it should take to participate
- A description of potential inconveniences, discomforts, and risks
- A description of the extent to which and the means by which confidentiality will be maintained
- A list of potential benefits
- participation is voluntary
- the individual may refuse to participate
- the participant may skip questions or tasks without penalty
- the participant can discontinue participation at any time without penalty
- the participant understands the consent form
- contact information for the primary researcher, faculty advisor(s), and the IRB chair ([email protected])
- When applicable, notification that the participant will receive a copy of the consent form
- When applicable, a statement verifying that the participant is at least 18 years old
Consent Form Templates
Contact the IRB
Bard's Institutional Review board is made up of faculty from the College plus administrative and community representatives.
Please feel free to contact the IRB ([email protected]) if have any questions about the IRB process or your specific proposal. The current members of the Bard IRB are: Tom Hutcheon (chair), Ziad Abu-Rish, Andrew Bush, Peter Gadsby, Theresa Law, Nicholas Lewis (administrative representative), Mark Moreland (community representative), Monique Segarra, and Theresa Law.