The typical approach to the on-line informed consent is a) that the IRB approves unsigned consent for either pragmatic and/or inherent reasons, b) the survey instrument is accessible only by clicking on a link (button) at the end of the informed consent statement.  This is not
too different from the kind of agreements you sign when installing new software.

I think it is important that IRBs understand what they are getting into, that they understand file security issues, and equally that researchers are given the opportunity to use the internet.

Jim

Carol Brodie wrote:

> Here's a question for those of you involved in Human Subjects protections.  -   Do any of you have experience with, or policies on, obtaining informed consent from survey participants when the survey is done online?
>
> We have a study being proposed in which the researcher has a statement at the beginning of the online (e-mail) survey that their participation indicates their consent.  Generally, with *some* hard copy surveys, that can be sufficient.  However, online.........I'm not sure.
>
> Thoughts?  Experiences?  Policies?
>
> Thanks for any help that you can provide,
>
> Carol Brodie
> Sponsored Programs Administrator
> Office of Sponsored Programs
> Research & Graduate Studies
> University of the Pacific
> Stockton, CA  95211
> xxxxxx@uop.edu
> 209-946-7356
> Fax:  209-946-2858
>
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--
James R. Brett, Ph.D., Director,
Office of University Research
California State University, Long Beach
562-985-5314  562-985-8665 fax
http://www.csulb.edu/~research/

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