Researchers like using summary consent material to complement voluminous information sheets, but is that a good thing?  That and related matters  are explored in this discussion activity.

As AI that is used in research become smarter it raises some interesting questions

1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. Are they more impartial than humans?
                     2. Should they or their programmers be listed as co-author or at least acknowledged?

This very topical discussion sheet could be used in the context of discussions about conflicts of interest, authorship and respect.

To be valid and useful. a consent strategy must be appropriate and respectful of participants.  It should be relevant for the research design and context.  An information sheet and consent form that is signed should not be the default, standard or best approach.  Consent material written for lawyers will probably ‘work’ for 0ther lawyers.

The right to withdraw from a project needs to be more than an artifice we give lip service to.  If there are unavoidable limitations they need to be disclosed upfront and dealt with in the research ethics review application.

When you look at consent templates who were they written for? Can you think of five justifiable alternatives to info sheets+consent forms?

This human research ethics activity sheet is based on another fun image by Don Mayne.  Like much of Don’s work, while we are chuckling we find ourselves reflecting on an important topic (or, as in this case, topics).  How is important and potentially sensitive information relayed to participants?   How does an institution usefully inform the practice of researchers after research ethics review?

The second of six two-page resource sheet that could be provided to new members, as part of their induction, or to existing members as a refresher.  The remaining four sheets will be published in the coming days.

A discussion activity based upon a fun cartoon image by Don Mayne.  Dracula attacks, Consent for wider use?

A discussion activity about the ethical conduct of research with brain organoids.  A potentially fun and topical way to get novices talking about human research ethics.

Advances in scans and machine learning raise very familiar challenges.   It’s time for careful reflection, not hysteria.