My project design includes limited disclosure (not fully disclosing the aims or methods of research to research participants). How can I best respect their autonomy and ensure that they are able to give informed consent?
While some projects require that participants are subject to limited disclosure as part of the project design, the following suggestion enhances researchers’ ability to protect the autonomy of the participant and maximize their ability to give informed consent. According to the NHMRC National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research (NS), researchers should, “whenever possible and appropriate, after the participation has ended, provide …information about the aims of the research and an explanation of why the omission or alteration was necessary” (NS 2.3.1.e.i., p.23). Where possible, when informing participants of the aims of the research (by providing them with a Plain Language Statement (PLS) including the previously omitted information), researchers are encouraged to include a new consent form which invites participants to include their data in the final data set. Where participants choose not to sign this additional consent form, their data should be destroyed and should not
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