RDI Network - Research for Development Impact Network

Informed consent is one of the basic minimum requirements of ethical research. It means that before agreeing to participate, a participant understands what the research is about, the reasons for the research, how it will be conducted and what their involvement is.

The most important part of informed consent is that participants are able to choose to participate or not to participate, based on the information they’ve received and can choose to withdraw at any time.

Different Ways of Obtaining Informed Consent

Written consent is the most formal method. It requires participants to have adequate levels of literacy and the information may need to be translated. Written consent usually involves a Participant Information Statement and a formal consent form signed by the research participant and/or their guardian if required. See Tool A, B & C.

Verbal Consent may be the most appropriate where participants have low literacy levels or where more formal approaches are not appropriate. It is best practice for the researcher to have a written record that informed consent was given verbally, including the date, location and any witnesses that can verify this took place. See Tool D.

Activity-based content may be the most appropriate where participants are children. This activity-based consent form involves a researcher asking a series of questions about the research and how the child feels about participating. The child then chooses the cartoon face that best represents their feelings about each question. See Tool E

Researchers working in international development are frequently working in contexts where the cultural background of local research partners and research participants may be very different to their own.

Understanding culture and cultural difference is complex and requires time and experience. However, researchers can begin building cross-cultural competency by developing the experience, ability to reflect on their own cultural values, identify differences with their research participants and manage these respectfully.

Researchers can also prepare for cross-cultural interaction ensuring they have a thorough understanding of the cultural values of the research setting.

Tool F below contains ten common examples of cultural values and practices that relate to research. Under each topic is a series of questions for the researcher to consider prior to commencing the research. If local research partners are involved, they may be the most reliable source of information and advice on what to do, and what not to do.

Research and Respecting Rights

Respecting the rights of research participants is a responsibility that researchers must uphold at all times.

Research can and often does involve asking participants questions about their lives and livelihoods. Respecting a participants’ privacy means accepting the amount of information a person is willing to share and entrust with the researcher.

Entrusting this information to the researcher also carries with it an obligation on the researcher to manage this information carefully and confidentially.

Some participants may be exposed to significant risk if their participant and the content of their participation is not kept confidential. If anonymity is required, the researcher must ensure additional steps and techniques are undertaken to de-identify participants during and after the research takes place.

Researchers should give opportunities to participants to choose varying degrees of confidentiality, from anonymity to different forms of identification such as by number or age or sex.

Managing Your Information

Data management – or management of the information obtaining during your research – is key to ensuring that your research remains confidential, and if required, anonymous.

There are different ways and techniques to record the research, depending on the methods used to record the information or data. The most important consideration is that the information is transferred and removed from the “collecting device” which might be a computer, tape recorder, video camera, paper le or phone.

The information then needs to be clearly marked and stored safely and securely. This might be in a physical setting, such as a locked ling cabinet or digitally on a secure USB or password protected secure server that only the researcher(s) has access to. Researchers may also be required to keep the data secure for a defined period of time.

Tool G below shows example of a pictorial data management flowchart where researchers can plan how their data will be managed and communicate this plan with local research partners and participants. See Tool G.