Questions participants should ask before agreeing to participate in a research study

Investigators are always on the look out for participants to enroll in a study; without them, how could you collect valuable data?

When approaching/recruiting potential participants, provide lots of information about your study but also encourage them to ask questions. Full disclosure about the study and honest answers to questions will make life easy for you, the investigator, as well as your participants.

Some questions participants should ask (courtesy of OHRP - http://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/outreach/questions.html):

• Why is the research being done?

• What will be done to me as part of the research?

• How will I benefit from the research?

• Could the research hurt me?

• What will the researcher do with my information?

• Will the research cost me anything?

• Who pays if I�m unexpectedly injured in the study?

• How long will the study last?

• What happens if I decide to leave the study early?

• Who should I call if I have a question about the research?

who should a participant contact

The contact information (telephone, email, address) should be listed for the principal researcher/investigator and HARPO office.

First and foremost, state to the participant in the consent process and on the consent form how they can reach the researcher/investigator at the time of the study and after the study is completed in case they have any questions, concerns, or complaints. List the contact information for a faculty advisor if applicable.

The staff of the HARPO office, who represents the IRB, must also be listed as a contact point to provide assistance to participants to about the IRB review process or that person's rights as a research participant.

The consent form must clearly state who and how to contact both. Use the consent form examples on IRB web site to create this form.