Compensating research participants for their time and effort is common in human subjects research. Compensation can recognize the time, travel, inconvenience, or effort involved in participating in a study. However, compensation should be carefully considered during study planning and clearly described in the materials submitted to the IRB.
Researchers should consider whether the proposed compensation is appropriate for the activities participants will complete, the amount of time required, and the population being recruited. Compensation should not be so excessive that it could unduly influence someone’s decision to participate.
Compensation and Coercion
One important consideration when determining participant compensation is the potential for coercion or undue influence. Researchers should avoid presenting compensation in a way that could pressure individuals to participate.
For example, compensation should not be overly emphasized in recruitment materials. Recruitment materials should provide participants with enough information to understand that they are being invited to participate in research, rather than making the financial incentive the primary focus of the invitation.
The amount of compensation should also be appropriate for the activity and population. Researchers should consider the time commitment, inconvenience, procedures involved, and characteristics of the participant population when proposing compensation.
This can be particularly important when research involves populations that may be more susceptible to undue influence, such as children, individuals with limited financial resources, or other potentially vulnerable populations. Compensation should recognize participation without creating inappropriate pressure to enroll or remain in a study.
Researchers should also remember that compensation is not the same as a benefit of the research. Participants should not be led to believe that they will personally benefit from participating unless a genuine benefit is expected and appropriately described.
Be Specific About How Compensation Will Be Provided
The IRB needs to know exactly how participants will receive compensation. Researchers should identify the form of compensation in the study application and supporting documents.
For example, compensation might be provided as:
- A physical gift card
- An electronic gift card
- Cash
- A check
- Another clearly defined form of payment
Simply stating that participants will be “compensated” may not provide enough information for the IRB to evaluate the proposed payment process.
Researchers should also explain when participants will receive their compensation. For example, compensation might be provided immediately after completing a study activity, given to participants in person, or emailed several days after participation. If an electronic gift card will be emailed 5–7 days after the activity, that timeframe should be clearly stated.
The compensation process should also be consistent with the information provided to participants. If the approved study states that participants will receive a $25 electronic gift card within 5–7 days of completing an interview, the research team should follow that process.
What About Raffles and Drawings?
Some researchers consider using a raffle or drawing as an incentive for participation. Solutions IRB does not allow raffles as a form of participant compensation.
Instead, researchers should propose a clearly defined compensation structure that explains who will receive compensation, how much they will receive, what form the compensation will take, and when it will be provided.
A clearly defined compensation plan also helps ensure that participants understand what they can expect before deciding whether to participate.
Include Compensation Details in Your IRB Submission
When preparing an IRB application, researchers should provide enough information for the IRB to understand the entire compensation process. Consider including:
- Amount: How much will participants receive?
- Form: Will compensation be cash, a gift card, an electronic gift card, or another form?
- Timing: When will participants receive it?
- Method: Will it be provided in person, mailed, or emailed?
- Activity: What must participants complete to receive compensation?
- Partial participation: Will participants receive compensation if they withdraw or do not complete every study activity?
Providing these details up front can help the IRB evaluate whether the compensation is appropriate and whether the process is clearly communicated to participants.
Compensation Should Be Clear and Appropriate
Participant compensation is an important part of study planning. Researchers should aim for compensation that appropriately recognizes participants’ time and effort without creating undue influence.
By clearly describing the amount, form, timing, and conditions of compensation in the IRB application and participant-facing materials, researchers can help ensure that both the IRB and participants understand exactly what to expect.