General Information
The University often conducts research where there is a requirement to obtain participation and/or collect information/responses from human subjects. These human subjects may include any individual necessary for the research being conducted (i.e. external individuals, Kennesaw State University employees, students, retirees, nonresident aliens, etc.).
Researchers frequently find it necessary to offer remuneration in order to obtain sufficient participation. These incentives may be in the form of cash, gift cards, checks, non-monetary items or Visa Debit Cards and all are subject to Internal Revenue tax laws. The University is required by IRS regulations to submit 1099 forms for all participants paid $600 or more per calendar year and must also adhere to the uniform administrative requirements set forth in OMB Uniform Guidance.
The optional module titled “Consent and Subject Recruitment Challenges: Remuneration” offered within the Social/Behavioral Research Course - Basic Course CITI Training should be completed with a passing score prior to including human participant incentives as part of the IRB application.
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Voluntary Participation - Major Ethical Issue
Once an investigator decides to pay a subject for participation in research, a number of points need to be considered. First and foremost, subject payment raises ethical issues around voluntary participation and the individual's need to make informed choices about research that are based on the real risks and benefits of participation, not on financial incentives. Federal regulations and commentaries offer guidance about such remuneration, but set no strict limits, leaving the KSU Institutional Review Board to decide how much payment is too much or not enough based on what the “payment” is (e.g., money, gift cards, extra credit, etc.) and the nature of the task (simple survey, manipulation with deception, etc.) that the participant is asked to perform. Your application form submitted to the IRB should indicate and justify proposed levels and purposes of remuneration, which also should be clearly stated in the accompanying consent forms.
The Food and Drug Administration cautions against payments that "...represent undue influence." The National Institutes of Health similarly warns IRBs about payments that cause "undue inducement." Following these general cautions and based on its own experience, the KSU IRB will provide the final determination about subject payment.
When subjects are reimbursed for actual costs resulting from their participation in research that is generally not considered remuneration. Subjects' reimbursement for actual out-of-pocket expenses associated with research participation such as meals, parking, travel, and lodging is common and typically receipts are requested. It is sometimes difficult to determine whether the payment is a remuneration or reimbursement. Therefore, the consent form must clearly outline and define the process.