Gaining Consent for Survey/ Questionnaire studies

For online survey/ questionnaire studies, the participant information leaflet can be embedded into the introduction to the survey; whether this is online or in hard copy. This is better to be given to the participant as one document, however they should be given time to read and understand the information before being asked to complete the survey (good practice is to give them 24 hours after giving them the participant information before asking them to complete the survey).

Your introductory page is therefore then the first page of your survey, and should include the following information:

  • who you are and what the survey is about/aim/purpose of the project
  • by completing the questionnaire participants are giving the consent for their data to be used in the study
  • confirmation that all responses will be anonymous (if this is the case)
  • confirmation that completion of the questionnaire is voluntary and participants can withdraw by closing the browser (or not submitting the questionnaire); responses cannot be withdrawn after they have been submitted if they are anonymous so it will not be possible to identify individuals
  • how long it will take to complete the questionnaire (on average)
  • the data storage arrangements –what format (electronic/hard copies), location, how long kept for, who will have access, how this will be kept secure etc.
  • what the data will be used for; e.g. only for use in MSc dissertation, for publication, for company reports, etc.?
  • your contact details for more info
  • the contact details for complaints (Head of Research Governance see template on next page)
  • the survey must contain a tick box (or equivalent) that participants are asked to complete after they have read the above information, and fully consent to their data being used in the described study

See template for your use on the next page!

Participation Information Leaflet and Online consent for Online Questionnaire

**Once approved, the text below can be adapted to your needs, then copied and pasted into the first page of your online survey tool**

PROJECT TITLE: xxxxx

NAME OF RESEARCHER: xxxxx

This sheet seeks to provide information, and advice, with respect to an individual's participation in support of the specified research project:

1. The project is entitled [your project title], and will consider [your project topic]’;

This research is being conducted by [your name] in support of their studies for an MSc in [your course name] at the University of Warwick, and this research is self-funded by the student;

2. The research is being supervised by [your supervisor name], [supervisor Warwick email address] who is an [internal/external] supervisor appointed by the University;

3. Participation in this research is totally voluntary, and assurances are given to the effect that no negative consequences will arise from refusal to participate in the research project;

4. Your consent for your data to be used in this questionnaire will be gained by your ticking the consent question at the end of this page, so by ticking this box you agree that your submitted data can be used in the resulting dissertation;

5. Your data will be collected anonymously, therefore due to the anonymity of the data at source, once completed it is not possible for participants to withdraw their data from the study;

6. Each individual is advised to fully consider, with others if necessary and prior to participation, any disadvantages, side effects, risks and/or discomforts that may arise from participation in this research;

7. Unless specifically agreed otherwise, all information will be held as confidential and will not be distributed to others;

8. The resulting dissertation, with anonymous data, will be reviewed by a University teaching staff member and/or a University appointed external assessor, by the University moderators, and by external examiners;

9. Whilst an MSc Dissertation does not pass into the public domain, it is possible that the dissertation (with its data) may be used as a source for future research, including research work for publication;

10. Whilst summarised/ analysed data may be used in future research and/ or publications, your individual data responses will be retained only until the student completes their course and then destroyed.

This research has been favourably reviewed by the University's Biomedical and Scientific Research Ethics Committee, Approval Reference: XXXXXXXX, dated: XX xxxxxx 2018. Dissatisfaction with the conduct of this research may be referred to the person below, who is a senior University of Warwick official entirely independent of this study:

Head of Research Governance, Research & Impact Services, University House, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 8UW; Tel: 024 76 522746; Email:

I give my consent to my data submitted within this questionnaire being used for the purposes stated above