For Participants
Thank you for participating in or considering participation in research at Dartmouth College. Research volunteers contribute valuable information through their participation in studies that can answer important questions and contribute to scientific knowledge. The Dartmouth Human Research Protection Program (HRPP) works with researchers in protecting the rights and welfare of research participants.
Before you participate
Participating in research is voluntary, so before the research begins, you may have to agree to participate. This process of seeking your agreement is called "informed consent." Consent is more than reading a document, it should be a conversation between the researcher and you as the participant. During the informed consent process, researchers educate potential research participants about the research project, answer questions, and ask whether they want to participate.
Informed consent can be a very simple process, such as reading a paragraph of information before taking a survey. It may also be more involved, depending on the research. The consent process might involve a face-to-face conversation with the research team before you agree to participate.
As a research participant you have the right to:
- Be treated in a caring and polite way
- Ask questions about the study at any time; before, during or after completion of the study
- Not feel pressured in any way while deciding whether to participate
- Refuse to be in the study, or to change your mind about being in the study once it has begun
- Refuse to answer any question(s) or survey items(s)
You have a right to know:
- What the research study is about
- What you will do in the study and how long it will take
- If there are risks, possible side effects or harm that can result from participating
- How information about you will be kept private or shared
- What to do if you have problems related to participating
- Where to look for information that was learned after the study is over
Children in Research
You may be asked if you are willing to allow your child to participate in a research study. Special efforts are made to protect children who participate in research.
As a parent, you play an important role in this process. Make sure you understand the risks as well as any possible benefits of your child participating in the study. Children also have the right to an age-appropriate explanation of the research.
Please remember that participation in research is voluntary. If you have any concerns, please feel free to contact the CPHS Office.
*******RESOURCES FOR FURTHER INFORMATION*******
Office of Human Research Protections-About Research Participation
Including:
- Informational Videos For Research Participants
- How IRBs Protect Research Participants
- Informed Consent for Research: What to Expect
- Research with Children: What Parents Need to Know
- Printable Informational Materials
- Additional Resources for Participants
*******Research at dartmouth*******
- The Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience Lab (CANLab) at Dartmouth studies pain, emotion, stress, and empathy and how they are shaped by cognitive and social influences. CANLab
- Space Medicine Innovations Lab at Dartmouth has an underlying interest in researching problems that might be encountered in long duration space flight. Much of the research has been translated to applications on Earth. Space Medicine Innovations Lab
- The Dartmouth Autism Research Initiative (DARI) is a group of neuroscience and psychology researchers who are devoted to understanding neurodiversity and the neurobiology of autism. DARI
- ClinicalTrials.gov provides patients, their family members, and the public with access to information on clinical studies for a wide range of diseases and conditions. ClinicalTrials.gov