Using Questions to Improve Informed Consent Form Reading Behavior in Students

Abstract

Previous research shows that students often do not read informed consent forms to understand their rights (Pederson, Neighbors, Tidwell, & Lostutter, 2011). Four hundred fifty-eight students participated in an advertised temperament study that actually measured whether they noticed a manipulation within the consent form. Answering five questions about the form raised the percentage of students noticing the manipulation in multiple settings; however, overall rates were low. Fewer than 10% of ethnic minority students noticed the manipulation. If the goal of consent forms in higher education remains an informed decision, these results indicate the need for increased interaction within the consent process.

Keywords:

• anxiety
• informed consent
• responsible conduct of research