Informed consent is a participant’s voluntary decision to join research after receiving enough information to understand its purpose, procedures, and potential risks. The information must arrive before participation, in a form the person can read and use to make a genuine choice. In analytics research, participants may be users, customers, or other people an organization asks to take part. section 8.4 section 8.1.2 section 8.1.1
A practical consent process should:
- Explain what participants will be asked to do, why the research is being conducted, and what risks or possible benefits matter to their decision. section 8.4 section 8.1.3
- Use readable, accessible information rather than hiding consent in a long terms-of-service agreement. section 8.1.2
- Make participation voluntary, offer a reasonable way to opt out, and explain that participants can withdraw without penalty. section 8.1.1 section 8.1.2
- Follow the stated procedures and commitments to privacy and confidentiality. section 8.1.2
A survey on attitudes toward AI
A marketing analytics team surveying people about artificial intelligence expects responses about topics such as job loss and academic integrity to be emotionally charged. Its consent information should make the kinds of questions clear before people decide whether to participate. A product analytics survey consent document provides another concrete model for communicating with participants. section 8.1.2
Consent is not a substitute for protecting the information collected. A wearable-device study involving diagnoses of hypertension or heart disease needs to consider disclosure risks and how to honor a participant’s request to withdraw their data from analysis. Consent for research participation is also distinct from requirements governing specific uses of personal data, such as those described under the GDPR and CCPA. section 8.1.3 section 8.4
