How is the consent process handled for Internet-Based research?
For anonymous Internet-based surveys, it is sometimes appropriate to use implied informed consent. Participants would still need to be presented with the consent information, but would be informed that their consent is implied by submitting the completed survey. Other Internet-based surveys include “I agree” or “I do not agree” buttons on the website for participants to click their choice of whether or not they consent to participate. If, for study design, the researcher needs to keep track of who participated or the IRB determines that some sort of documented consent is required, instead of “signed” informed consent, the researcher may email the consent form to participants who may then type their name and the date into the spaces provided on the consent form, and return it to the researcher via email. This process may be appropriate for data collected via email, chatrooms, online interviews, etc. NOTE: Researchers conducting web-based research should be careful not to make guarantees
For Internet-based surveys, it is sometimes appropriate to use implied informed consent. Participants would still need to be presented with the consent information, but would be informed that their consent is implied by submitting the completed survey. Internet-based surveys can include “I agree” or “I do not agree” buttons on the website for participants to click their choice of whether or not they consent to participate. If, for study design, the researcher needs to keep track of who participated or the IRB determines that some sort of documented consent is required, instead of “signed” informed consent, the researcher may email the consent form to participants who may then type their name and the date into the spaces provided on the consent form, and return it to the researcher via email. This process may be appropriate for data collected via email, chatrooms, online interviews, etc. NOTE: Researchers conducting web-based research should be careful not to make guarantees of confiden
