SensJus recently launched an experimental approach to gathering consent from research participants. As SensJus research often addresses participants who may have a low literacy level, we realized that standard consent forms were not meaningful for the aim of achieving an aware participation and informed consent. Therefore, we realized, together with an artist, forms that combine visuals and text. The forms are available as non-commercial creative commons resources for civil society organizations and for other researchers. Forms and images are available in English and Italian and anyone can translate them in other languages as needed. This can be useful especially for those civic actors and researchers that cannot rely on the work and advice of an artist. The forms have been approved by the JRC Ethical Review Board, Data Protection Officer and Clear Writing Team. We tested them with colleagues and prospect research participants. Based on this testing we refined the approach and protocol. All images realized with the artist are editable in Krita and in PhotoShop. We would like to promote further this resource to ensure it is structurally sued by peer researchers.
Addressing target audiences and expressing needs
- Collaboration
The forms are available as non-commercial creative commons resources for civil society organizations and for other researchers. Forms and images are available in English and Italian and anyone can translate them in other languages as needed. This can be useful especially for those civic actors and researchers that cannot rely on the work and advice of an artist. We aim to have other researchers and instutitions test and use our approach and eventually also support it with resources.
- Public or private funding institutions
- Research and Technology Organisations
- Academia/ Universities
R&D, Technology and Innovation aspects
The consent forms are currently in use by the SensJus project and a few other research projects and institutions that have demostrated interest in the approach. We aim to reach a larger and more systematic uptake of the approach, potentially also with dedicated resources.
Any researcher or research group that aims to engage non-expert publics as research participants can edit our forms and adapt our images to their needs.
The approach is not very expensive and it is easily sustainable as it just needs a relatively limited time dedication from an illustrator working with the researcher(s).
