Research participants are a valued part of all successful human subjects research. The University of Texas at El Paso recognizes the importance of your decision whether to participate in research.
Your participation is voluntary and you may choose not to participate or to stop participating at any time. Your decision whether to participate will not affect your current or future relations with The University of Texas at El Paso.
Participant FAQS
- What is a research study?
- A research study is a very careful way of looking at something and collecting data about what is being looked at. It can be something as simple as asking questions, giving a survey or looking at a particular behavior. On the other hand, it can be more complicated and may look at a specific disease or condition.
- What is a research subject?
- A research subject is a person who decides to participate in a research study. This is completely voluntary. You are helping the researcher look at the questions he/she wants to study. You can quit participating in the study at any time you want.
- What is a protocol?
- All research studies follow a protocol. A protocol is like a cookbook. It tells the researcher what can and cannot be done when he/she is conducting the study. All of this is done to protect the research subject, and this protocol is reviewed by the Institutional Review Board or IRB.
- Can anyone be in a research study?
- Each study has a list of who can and cannot be included in that study. This is written in the protocol. In order to protect research subjects, only people who qualify can be in the study.
- What is an IRB?
- The IRB is a group of people with varying backgrounds that review and approve research involving human participants to ensure participants are treated ethically. The IRB includes scientists, non-scientists and people from the community. The IRB serves to protect rights and welfare of research participants before and during the research study. For example, the IRB makes sure that any risks are as small as possible and that any benefit from the research outweighs any risk to the participant.
- The IRB does not decide whether you should take part in a research study. That is solely your decision. The IRB’s main purpose is to ensure potential participants can make an informed decision and to protect those who participate.
- What is informed consent?
- Informed consent is the process of learning the key facts about a research study before deciding whether to volunteer. Agreement to volunteer should be based upon knowing what will take place in the research study and how it might affect you. After learning the key facts about a research study, you can decide whether to be a volunteer in the study.
- What types of compensation might I be eligible for if I take part in a research study?
- Compensation may vary depending on the parameters of the research study in which you are enrolled. However, UTEP policy prohibits faculty, staff, and students from receiving financial compensation from participation in a UTEP research study.
- What questions should I ask before agreeing to take part in a research study?
- Before deciding to volunteer to take part in a research study, it’s important to know as much as possible about the research study. If there are any issues that concern you, be sure to ask questions. You might want to write your questions down in advance. The following is a list of sample questions. Not every question will apply to every research study.
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- Who is doing this research study and what question might it answer?
- What will participation entail?
- What could happen to me, good and bad, if I take part in the research study?
- How long will this research study last?
- What will happen to any specimens that I give?
- What other options or choices do I have if I decide not to take part in this research study?
- Will I be paid anything to be in this research study?
- Will I be told the results of the research study?
- Who will find out that I am taking part in this research study?
- How do I end my participation in this research study if I change my mind?
- Whom do I contact for questions and information about the research study?
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- Remember, if you do not understand the answer to any of your questions, ask again. Ask the person to explain the answer in a way you can understand. If you forget the answers to the questions during the research study, just ask them again.
- What if I have a concern or a complaint?
- If you have any concerns or complaints about a research study you are participating in, have been asked to participate in, or participated in during the past, contact the UTEP Human Subjects Research Office at IRB@utep.edu.
