Paying research participants

Altering risk perception

Central to the ethical challenges in financially compensating participants in research is that money may unduly induce people to take part.246 Although most people agree that paying participants is an inducement, the amount at which it becomes an “undue inducement” is debatable. Most decisions are susceptible to multiple influences, says Grady in the American Journal of Bioethics, and therefore monetary inducements are likely to be compatible with risk assessment and voluntary choice.1

To minimise the risk of payment creating undue inducement, Grady recommends that institutional review boards are required to review the amount, method, and timing of payment. Under these circumstances a person could be allowed the freedom to decide whether or not to participate in research after reading the purpose, risks, benefits, alternatives, and requirements of the study when asked for informed consent.1

Empirical evidence shows that higher payment motivates participation in studies, but common payments levels do not alter research participants' assessment of risk.78 If decisions to participate represent rational trade-offs, competent people are free to decide. …