An Experimental Study of Reading Online Consent Forms and Participant Honesty in a Self-Report Survey

• In Event: 42.081 - Survey Design and Construction

Abstract

We experimentally tested whether students (n = 509) read our study’s consent form and if they were honest in self-reporting their actions. In our experimental deception group (n = 245) we inserted a requirement for a mandatory blood donation in our consent form and found that only 11.4% of our experimental group were aware of what they had agreed to do. When we later asked for a self-report on whether participants read the consent form, the majority of participants reported that they skimmed it (57.95% control, 57.96% deception), or did not read it (21.21% control, 25.31% deception). Of those that indicated they skimmed it, few (8.71% control, 9.79% deception) accurately identified the unusual request in our study. Ethical considerations discussed.

Authors

• Laura M Jakiel, Florida State University

• Alysia D. Roehrig, Florida State University