Institutional Review Board/Oakwood University /7000 Adventist Blvd. NW / Huntsville, Alabama 35896
Social Science and Behavior Adult Consent Template (03-2011). Adapted with permission from
The University of Nebraska Medical Center Omaha, Nebraska, Revised 2018 Page 2
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Invitation
Invite the prospective subject to participate in the study using the following standard
invitation to participate:
You are invited to take part in this research study. The information in this form is
meant to help you decide whether or not to take part. If you have any questions,
please ask.
Why are you being asked to be in this research study?
Explain succinctly and simplistically why the prospective subject is eligible to participate.
As appropriate, major eligibility criteria may be included in this section (eg "You are
being asked to be in this study because you are either an employee or a supervisor
working a night shift").
What is the reason for doing this research study?
This section should state the scientific purpose of the study. If appropriate, brief
background material may be provided to help the potential subject understand why the
research is being done (eg, “People who work at night employ different strategies for
staying awake during their shifts. These methods are likely to be different between
employees and supervisors, because of their different levels of responsibility. This
research is designed to (1) better understand these strategies and (2) determine
whether ‘supervisor strategies’ could be successfully used by employees.”) This
information should be provided in simplistic language without reference to the subject.
What will be done during this research study?
Describe the procedures chronologically using simplistic language, short sentences (1-3
lines) and short paragraphs (less than 6 sentences). The use of subheadings helps to
organize this section and increases readability.
What are the possible risks of being in this research study?
Identify each intervention with a subheading and then state the associated risk(s) using
simplistic language (section II.12 of application). The most serious and common risks
should be addressed first followed by disclosure of uncommon and less serious risks in
a separate paragraph, if warranted. Risks common to social science and behavioral
research may include loss of confidentiality and emotional or psychological distress.
Alternately, if there are no known risks use this standard clause:
There are no known risks to you from being in this research study.