DRAFT

Exempt Research Consent/Recruitment Script Elements

Consent/recruitment should contain at least the following elements:

  • Identify yourself and explain why you are doing the research study. Use language that simply and clearly explains the research to potential participants. Participants must be informed that the project is for research purposes.
  • Participants must be told what they will be asked to do, if they agree to participate, how long it will take, and how you will protect their confidentiality (or if participants are anonymous, how you will assure anonymity). Include information about audio or video taping as applicable.
  • Participants must be told that their participation is voluntary; that they can refuse to answer questions that they do not wish to answer; and that they can stop participation at any time. In studies that are not anonymous, subjects should be told that they can withdraw at any time without penalty or repercussion.
  • Provide a means to contact you/investigator(s) if participants have questions or concerns about the research. Make it clear to the participants that you are affiliated with AUB.

Sample Consent Scripts for Exempt Research

  • ORAL SCRIPT

Hello, my name is [INSERT FULL NAME]. I am an AUB student. As part of my studies in [INSERT COURSE NAME OR DISCIPLINE OF THESIS/DISSERTATION] I am conducting a research study about [INSERT BRIEF PURPOSE OF RESEARCH, e.g. how people learn good eating habits, how sleep patterns might affect study habits, how and when people decide to change jobs, etc].

I have a brief survey that would take about [INSERT ESTIMATE OF TIME NECESSARY TO PARTICIPATE, e.g. 5 minutes of your time to complete.] Your participation is entirely voluntary; you may skip any questions that you don’t want to answer. No personally identifying information is being collected. [OR IF PERSONAL IDENTIFIERS ARE COLLECTED – Any personally identifiable information collected during the survey will be kept strictly confidential and in locked files in my desk. I will only use aggregated data in my research study report. The data files will be turned in to my advisor who will maintain the records for 3 years to meet AUB archive requirements and then will destroy all files that contain individual data] Do you have any questions about the research study?

Are you ready to begin? [after survey completion] Thank you for your participation in this research study. If you have any questions later on you may reach me by email at [INSERT EMAIL ADDRESS] or by phone at [INSERT PHONE NUMBER]

  • Internet Survey Script

Hello, my name is [INSERT NAME]. I am a [INSERT AUB affiliation, e.g. a graduate student in the Olayan School of Business at AUB] conducting a research study about [INSERT PURPOSE OF STUDY]. Would you be willing to take [INSERT TME] to full out the survey attached to this introduction? Your responses will be anonymous; there is no way for me to know who filled out a survey. Feel free to skip any questions that you do not want to answer. If you have questions about the survey, please feel free to email me at [INSERT CONTACT INFORMATION] (you may also include a phone number or use a phone number instead of an email address). If you choose to participate, please click on I ACCEPT at the bottom of the screen to begin the survey. Thank you in advance for your time.

  • Pen and Paper Survey Script

Hello, my name is [INSERT NAME] from AUB. I am conducting a research study about [INSERT PURPOSE OF THE STUDY]. Would you be willing to take [INSERT TIME] to fill out the survey? Your responses will be anonymous; there is no way for me to know who filled out a survey. [IF IDENTIFIERS ARE BEING COLLECTED, EXPLAIN HOW THE RESPONSES WILL BE KEPT CONFIDENTIAL AND HOW DATA WILL BE REPORTED AND THEN KEPT/DESTROYED AFTER THE RESEARCH STUDY IS COMPLETED]. Feel free to skip any questions that you do not want to answer. If you have questions about the survey, please feel free to email me at [INSERT CONTACT] (you may also include a phone number or use a phone number instead of an email address). If you chose to participate, please take a survey packet that includes a self-addressed stamped envelope you can use to mail me the survey. (If appropriate use “please deposit your completed survey in the drop box located at [INSERT LOCATION]. Thank you in advance for your time.