NCRM Methods Review Papers NCRM/001 Informed Consent in Social Research: A Literature Review

This paper comprises a literature review outlining the current issues and debates relating to informed consent in social research. Given the rapidly changing nature of the field it draws primarily on literature published between 1998-2004. However, it includes some papers and books
published prior to this where these are viewed as having made an important contribution to issues and debates around informed consent. The paper focuses primarily on consent in relation to qualitative research comprising ‘traditional’ methods of data collection, such as interviews and observation. It does not does not engage with the many complex ethical issues relating to research
using visual methods and new digital technologies nor does it engage with the issues of consent in relation to quantitative research both of which, while important, are beyond the scope of this paper. The paper explores issues of informed consent in qualitative social research in general but focuses specifically on research conducted with so called ‘vulnerable’ groups (to include children, older people and people with a range of physical and mental health problems) in that issues of consent are perceived as being particularly pertinent when conducting research with these groups. This review outlines the regulatory, ethical and legal context for consent in social research and the operationalisation of informed consent in practice. This review was conducted as part of a project funded within the ESRC Research Methods Programme 2002-2004.