What should I ask about it?
Ask the researchers what they are studying, why, and what are the risks and benefits of taking part.
The questions you need to think or ask when you are invited to take part in research will vary depending on the research question being asked and the research design being used.
The following are general questions you might like to think about:
- What question is this piece of research addressing? (i.e. What do the researchers hope to learn?)
- Why is this an important question?
- Why am I being asked to participate? (Who else is and isn’t and why?)
- What will happen to me if I participate?
- What will happen to me if I do not participate?
- What are the potential risks of participating? (And, if applicable, what will happen if something goes wrong?)
- What are the potential benefits of participating?
- When will the results of the study be available?
- Will I be told the results?
Page last edited: 30 January 2011
