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Compensation

Philosophy

Compensation may be in monetary form (cash, gifts cards, etc.) or non-monetary form (extra credit, course credit, small keepsakes, etc.) to thank participants for their time and effort. Payments may include reimbursement for costs for travel, babysitting, or other expenses resulting from or related to participation in the research.

Payment for participation in research should be just and fair. The amount and schedule of all payments should be presented to the IRB at the time of initial review. The IRB reviews the amount, method and timing of payment to assure they are neither coercive or present undue influence.

Payment should not be contingent upon completion of the entire study. In cases where a participant is unable to complete, payment will be pro-rated based on the amount of participation.

Payment for participation in studies is not a research benefit.

Participants must be accurately informed through the consent process about any payment or incentive for participation.
If or when questions or complaints arise regarding payment, the consent form becomes the source document for the information that was provided to participants.
The information about incentives or payment should be clear, detailed, and consistent with the protocol.

The following information must be disclosed to participants prior to enrollment:

  • amount of incentives or payments, including the approximate value of non-cash gifts
  • payment schedule
  • the chance of winning (if in the form of a drawing)
  • participant requirements to receive incentives or payments (including if receipts are required for reimbursement)
  • conditions where payment will be reduced (e.g., participant withdraws part way through the research)
  • institutional requirements for the researchers to report participant information to disburse payment.

Researchers and the IRB must Ensure That:

  • Participants are paid equitably
  • Payment amount is commensurate with the time and effort required for participation
  • Rewards offered for participation in research do not cause undue enticement
  • Ensure the amount paid as a bonus for completion is reasonable and not so large to coerce participants to stay in the study when they would have otherwise withdrawn.

The following questions may be useful for researchers and the IRB to assess the appropriateness of payment for greater than minimal risk research:

  • Are conditions for research participation consistent with standards for voluntary and informed consent?
  • Is the compensation reasonable given the participant population and the complexities, inconveniences, and risks of the study?
  • Does the compensation entice an individual to participate when they might otherwise not?
  • Should the IRB monitor the project to evaluate compensation?

Determining the if the amount of compensation is appropriate might require considering wage practices within a general locale, or among a particular population.

  • A $100 incentive to physicians for a 1-hour focus group during the work day may be considered an appropriate incentive.
  • A $100 incentive to high school students to participate in the same focus group may not be appropriate.

Projects with multiple sessions or a long time commitment should accrue as it progresses or be paid immediately after a session.

  • Participants who withdraw before completing the study receive the amount earned according to time spent in the research.
  • Compensation can also be awarded for completing various steps and/or tasks involved in the research.
    • Study has a screening process to determine eligibility. Each potential participant will be compensated $1.00 to complete the screening process then answer a 10-15 minute survey for another $4.00.
      • If the participant is ineligible, they would be thanked for their time and paid $1.00.
      • If the participant passes the screening criteria and completes the survey, they receive $1.00 and the other $4.00.
  • Completion of a research activity may not be a criterion for payment, except for small, non-coercive bonuses added as an incentive to accrued payments.
  • Researchers must describe the amount, distribution schedule and processes for incentives/payments in the Research Protocol Application and Informed Consent Form at the time of initial review, or in a protocol amendment if an incentive/payment is being added to an approved study. This requirement applies to all review levels: exempt, expedited, and full committee.
  • Parents/guardians should be able to make informed decisions about their child’s participation based on the true risks and benefits of the research, not on compensation.
  • The protocol should clearly state the forms of compensation that will be provided to the participants in the study and the amount of compensation. An approximate value should be provided for gifts, mementos, keepsakes, food or beverages.

Excessive or overly attractive Compensation May:

  • Distort the perception of risks for participation in a study
  • Impair a participant's ability to exercise proper judgment
  • Cause participants to lie or conceal information that might make them ineligible to enroll in the research

Researchers need to determine whether their use of a drawing for a chance to win a prize constitutes a lottery. Lotteries are illegal because they are considered “gambling” under Texas Penal Code Chapter 47.

A "lottery" is defined as any scheme or procedure whereby one or more prizes are distributed by chance among persons who have paid or promised consideration for a chance to win anything of value, whether such scheme or procedure is called a pool, lottery, raffle, gift, gift enterprise, sale, policy game, or some other name.

Given the possible implications to researchers using drawings as a form of compensation or an incentive to participate in research, here is a framework for the acceptable use of drawings in human research at UTEP:

      1. The compensation is appropriate when it is not large enough to be considered an inducement (undue influence).
      2. The participant is not told that entry or eligibility for the drawing is conditioned on completing the study. This means that everyone is eligible for the drawing upon providing consent to participate in the study and cannot be told they must complete the study.
      3. The time, effort, and inconvenience of the participant cannot be substantial. Substantial time and effort is determined on a case by case basis and considers the procedures involved such as what is asked of the participant and the amount of time involved.
      4. This approach is not limited to exempt research.

Participants should also be informed of the odds of winning, number of prizes, how winners are chosen and notified.

For student participants, compensation can be provided in the form of extra credit and/or course credit. The study design and compensation should account for student participants in other disciplines/colleges that may participate in your research but their college/professor will not grant extra credit and/or course credit.

Extra credit and/or course credit must be reasonable and in accordance with the tasks and time involved in the project. If extra credit and/or course credit is provided to those students that participate in research, students who opt not to participate in research should be provided with alternate non-research options to receive extra credit and/or course credit.