Sample Oral Consent Script – SBS Student Project
[Note that although the verbal consent is being sought, participants should be given a copy
of the script that includes the researcher’s and IRB’s contact information.]
Instructions are in red; bolded items must be included.
Before submission to the IRB: remove instructions and any bold emphasis
[Study Title]
[PI Name]
[Student Investigator Name]
Hello. My name is [insert name]. I am a graduate student in the Department/School of [add
department or School] at AUB. I would like to invite you to participate in a research study
about [describe project in non-technical language; explain purpose of study].
Before we begin, I would like to take a few minutes to explain why I am inviting you to
participate and what will be done with the information you provide. You will be asked to
[describe procedure, such as “participate in a short interview” or “take several memory tests.”
Include types of questions that will be asked; describe alternative procedures, if any] Please stop
me at any time if you have questions about the study.
I am doing this study as part of my studies at AUB. I will be [add what you will be doing as part
of data collection, e.g. interviewing x number of people, asking y number of people to complete
the tests, etc.] and will use the information as the basis for my [explain as course research
requirement, thesis, dissertation.] I may also use this information in articles that might be
published, as well as in academic presentations. Your individual privacy and confidentiality of
the information you provide will be maintained in all published and written data analysis
resulting from the study. [State any conditions for confidentiality of data here.] [If identities will
be disclosed, provide details, e.g. with your permission your identity will be made known in the
written materials resulting from this study, or pseudonyms will be used with any quotes
attributed to an individual.] [N.B. If you will be sharing the information with other researchers or
putting data in archives, etc, explain your plans here.]
Your participation should take approximately [insert duration.] Please understand your
participation is entirely on a voluntary basis and you have the right to withdraw your consent
or discontinue participation at any time without penalty. [If you will be asking any personal
or sensitive questions, state as much here.] [State any foreseeable risks to participants here,
including steps you will take to minimize these risks. If the risks are minimal, state so.] The
benefits which may reasonably be expected to result from this study are [state any potential
direct benefits here. If there are no direct benefits, state as such.] You will receive [insert
reimbursement or incentive for participation; explain any proration of payment if the subject
withdraws for completing study, if any; where there is no payment or compensation, state as
such] as payment for your participation.
If at any time and for any reason, you would prefer not to answer any questions, please feel free
to skip those questions [interview – say ‘skip this question’; paper form, just skip the question].
If at any time you would like to stop participating, please tell me. We can take a break, stop and
continue at a late date, or stop altogether. You will not be penalized for deciding to stop
participation at any time [if prorating payment, make clear impact of deciding to withdraw from
participation.]
[If you will be tape recording or videotaping the subject include the following:]
I would like to tape record/video tape this interview so as to make sure that I remember
accurately all the information you provide. I will keep these tapes in [state where you will keep
them] and they will only be used by [state who will have access to the tapes]. [If you will be
sharing taped data with other researchers and/or archiving data, state whether identifiers other
than voice or face will be included.] [Explain what will happen to the tapes after the research
done is completed.] [If participants may participate without being taped, state so.]
If you have any questions, you are free to ask them now. If you have questions later, you may
contact me at [add your contact information, including name, email address, phone number,
etc.]. If you have questions about your rights as a participant in this research, you can contact
the following office at AUB: [add contact information for SBS IRB/IRB Office, address, phone
number, email.]
Are you interested in participating in this study?
Consent to Record Interview
(Question should be posed before any recording begins)
May I record this interview?
Consent to Quote from Interview
I may wish to quote from this interview either in the presentations or articles resulting from this
work. [If a pseudonym will be used, include this statement: A pseudonym will be used in order
to protect your identity, unless you specifically request that you be identified by your true name.]
Do you all me to quote from this interview?
Consent to Use Name
There may be reasons for which you prefer that your true name be used in presentations and
articles related to this research.
Would you like your true name to be used in any oral presentations or written documents
resulting from this research?
[Note that if a participant agrees to have his or her name used, signed consent should be
obtained, including a separate signature line for participation, taping (where applicable), and use
of name. In such cases, add signature lines to this consent document. Remember to always give
a copy of the Consent Form to the participant.