Informed consent in research
Informed consent is an ongoing communication process that supports a potential participant’s voluntary choice to join, continue or withdraw from research.
Open interactive lesson & self-check ↗Study designs: where do you start?
Original conceptual SVG · scalableA simplified decision map; study ethics, temporal sequence, feasibility and bias safeguards before selecting a design.
Essential information
Communicate research purpose, procedures, foreseeable risks, potential benefits, alternatives where relevant, confidentiality protections and whom to contact for questions.
Capacity and voluntariness
Assess understanding and decision-making capacity. Protect against coercion and undue influence; additional safeguards may be necessary for vulnerable populations.
Document and revisit consent
Use an ethics-approved process suited to context. New material information may require renewed discussion; consent alone does not substitute for ethical study design or data protection.
Reference and next reading
Explore the original curriculum and publisher-hosted resources for full-depth reading; this note is an original schematic introduction, not an exhaustive chapter.