Informed Consent

Core Principles and Practice of Informed Consent

Informed consent is underpinned by three core principles: (1) respect for persons, (2) beneficence, and (3) justice. These principles are known as the Belmont principles, after the 1979 report from the National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research, which was convened in the Belmont Conference Center in Maryland in the United States.

The principle of respect for persons states that human research participants should be treated as autonomous agents, be fully informed about the nature of the research they are asked to take part in, and that individuals with diminished autonomy should be protected. At the core of this principle is a moral judgment about the proposed research activities based on the question, “would you be happy to be treated in this way?” The principle of beneficence focuses on the consequences of research participation and asks researchers to ensure that the benefits of participation outweigh any harm. The principle of justice states that the selection of research participants should be fair and that those who are asked to bear the burden should also benefit.

In education research, these principles are typically translated into practice through written project information sheets that are given to potential research participants at the beginning of a research study. Project information sheets are designed to inform participants about key information including why the project is being carried out; who is doing the project, and how it is funded; why individuals are specifically being approached for participation; what participation in the research will entail; any risks and benefits for those taking part and for others; anonymity and confidentiality of participation and how personal data will be protected; and contact details of key personnel.

Information sheets are often accompanied by a consent form that participants are asked to sign if they agree to participate. The consent form generally asks individuals to confirm that they have read the information sheet and had the opportunity to ask questions, agree to take part voluntarily and can withdraw at any time, and understand their rights to confidentiality and anonymity. Together, the information sheet and consent form tend to be the key communication tools through which informed consent is gained. Information sheets, consent forms, and the research project protocols that guide their content are usually reviewed by panels of relevant stakeholders before being sent to potential participants. Common names for these panels are institutional review boards or research ethics committees.

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