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Sociology vocabulary · Research Methods

Informed consent

Meaning in sociology, with examples

nounCore term

In sociology, informed consent means: Agreement to take part in research, given freely by a participant who has been told clearly about the study's aims, methods, risks and the right to withdraw.

In Turkish: bilgilendirilmiş onam, aydınlatılmış onam

How it is used

A basic principle of research ethics that ethics committees require for most projects with human participants. Researchers obtain or seek informed consent, often with a signed consent form. Extra care is needed with children and vulnerable groups.

Example sentences

  1. All participants gave informed consent before the interviews began.

  2. The ethics committee asked us to simplify the informed consent form.

Common collocations

  • obtain informed consent
  • informed consent form
  • give informed consent
  • research ethics
  • participant observationA research method in which the researcher joins in the activities of the group being studied while observing and recording what happens.
  • respondentA person who answers the questions in a survey, questionnaire or interview.
  • fieldworkResearch carried out in the real settings where people live and work, rather than in a library or office, by observing, interviewing and collecting material on site.
  • semi-structured interviewAn interview based on a prepared list of topics or questions that the researcher can reorder, rephrase or follow up, so that participants can answer in their own words.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

More terms: Research Methods

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