Guidelines for Informed Consent
Potential recruits to your research must be given sufficient information to allow them to decide whether or not they want to take part.
Where research involves face to face interviews, focus groups, direct observation or similar methods of data collection, participants should normally be given an information sheet (or leaflet) and asked to sign a consent form. Details of what should normally be included in each are given below. An information sheet should be written in simple, non-technical terms and be easily understood by a lay person. While it is always important to ensure that adequate information is given, the way in which the information is presented will need to be adapted to the individual circumstances of the study.
Similarly, clear evidence must be obtained that the participant has given informed consent to take part in the study. This will normally be in the form of a signed consent form although other evidence may be acceptable (for example by audio recording consent). If you use a consent form, download the one on the Psychology resources page and revise it to make it work for your study. Make sure the title of the study on the PI sheet and consent form match and are not too technical or too long.
Letters to gatekeeping organisations such as schools or companies (any organisation outside Oxford Brookes University) asking for their cooperation in recruiting participants should include similar information to the participant information, but in addition must make clear what you are asking of the organisation.
The parents of children under 16 would normally expect for their consent to their child’s involvement in research to be sought. Even parents of young people aged 16-17 might expect to be informed and consulted if the topic of the research is sensitive. The children themselves have the right for their consent to be sought even where their parent gives consent, and this should be done in a way that is appropriate for their age. Discuss these issues with your supervisor.
Where participants are asked to complete and return a questionnaire, the questionnaire should be accompanied by a covering letter but no consent form is needed: consent is implied by returning the questionnaire. The covering letter, however, should include the information given below.
Participant Information Sheet
The information sheet, covering letter or leaflet should be printed on Brookes headed paper (where appropriate) with full contact details for the supervisor as well as the name and email of the student researcher and date. It should normally contain the following information:
A study title
The title should be simple and self-explanatory to a lay person.
An invitation paragraph
This should explain that the individual is being asked to take part in a research study. The following is an example of how this may be phrased:
'You are being invited to take part in a research study. Before you decide whether or not to take part, please take time to read the following information carefully'.
What is the purpose of the study?
The background and the aim of the study should be given here. You should say how long the study will run and outline the overall design of the study. Make sure the style of this is simple and easy for non-psychologists to understand and does not include technical language. (NB: You must pilot the information sheet on someone similar to the participant group you will be approaching. For children or other vulnerable participants this means talking to your supervisor to work out how to pilot the information sheet and whom to pilot it on. Report that you have carried out this piloting in your application for research ethics approval.)
Why have I been invited to participate?
You should explain how the individual was chosen to take part in the study and how many other people will be asked to participate. This needs to provide an answer to ‘why me?’ An example is:
‘You have been invited to take part as you are aged between 18 and 25 and known to the researcher or to one of the researcher’s contacts.’
Look at the annotated examples of information sheets. This is usually the section in which you will put the inclusion criteria.
Do I have to take part?
You should explain that taking part in the research is entirely voluntary. For example, you could say: -
'No, taking part is entirely voluntary. If you do decide to take part you will beasked to sign a consent form. Even if you decide to take part you are still free to withdraw any unprocessed data at any time and without giving a reason'.
If your study involves the recruitment of children at secondary school, you must explain that choosing to either take part or not take part in the study will have no impact on their marks, assessments or future studies.
What will happen to me if I take part?
You should explain your methods of data collection, including what the individual will be asked to do, where and how much time will be involved.
What are the possible benefits, disadvantages and risks of taking part? (where appropriate)
You should outline any direct benefits for the individual and any other beneficial outcomes of the study, including furthering our understanding of the topic.
You should describe any disadvantages or 'costs' involved in taking part in the study, including the time involved.
Will what I say in this study be kept confidential?
You should explain that all information collected about the individual will be kept strictly confidential and describe how confidentiality, privacy and anonymity will be ensured in the collection, storage and publication of research material. If a publication is intended, data generated by the study must be retained in accordance with the University's policy on Academic Integrity (ask your supervisor about this). You should include a statement that the data generated in the course of the research must be kept securely in paper or electronic form for a period of ten years after the completion of a research project.If no publication is intended, you will need to delete the data at the end of the project and should say so in your applications for approval and in the information sheet.
What should I do if I want to take part?
Explain exactly how the participant should 'opt in' to the study.
What will happen to the results of the research study?
You should tell the individual what will happen to the results of the research. Will they be used in your dissertation or thesis? For what degree? Will they be published? How can they obtain a summary of the findings?
Who is organising and funding the research?
You should explain that you are conducting the research as a student or member of staff at OxfordBrookesUniversity. Give your department name.
Who has reviewed the study?
You may state that the research has been approved by the Psychology Research Ethics Committee, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Oxford Brookes University.You should add that if they have any concerns about the way in which the study has been conducted, they should contact the Psychology Research Ethics Officer on
Contact for Further Information
You should give the individual a contact point for further information. This should be your name and that of your supervisor.
Thank you
Remember to thank the individual for taking time to read the information sheet and put your name at the bottom.