Should All Research Participants be Paid for Participation in Research
Center for Rapid Evidence Synthesis (ACRES)DRRES-38
This Rapid Response should be cited as
ACRES (2019) Should All Research Participants be Paid for Participation in Research;A Rapid Response Brief. Kampala: The Center For Rapid Evidence Synthesis
Summary
Background: There is a split of opinion among bioethicists and researchers on whether research participants need to be paid for participation in research. The payment is typically compensation for time spent and/or reimbursement for expenses incurred. Findings: Reasons for paying participants center around benefits to participants and impact on enrollment. Reasons against payment revolve around undue inducement and concealing information that might expose participants to unnecessary risks. Conclusion: There are many reasons for and against payment, with some suggesting reaching a balance. The decision requires careful weighing of the arguments on both sides of the divide.