Consent requirements for quantitative surveys vary widely. Many ethical guidelines and Research Ethics Committees require written consent for any research involving human subjects, regardless of research content. However, there is no legal requirement for this.

For data gathered during quantitative surveys (questionnaires), where no personal data are collected or where personal identifiers are removed from the data, obtaining written consent may not be required. At minimum an information sheet should be provided to participants, making clear that consent is implied from participating in the survey or filling out the questionnaire. This is the usual practice for most large-scale surveys such as those undertaken by government departments in the UK.

If, however, a survey extends beyond asking questions to include activities such as a nurse visit, taking samples, making physical measurements, etc. then written consent is required. If personal data, sensitive data or confidential data are gathered during a survey, the use of written consent forms is recommended to assure compliance with the Data Protection Act and with ethical requirements.

A researcher conducting their own survey is still best served, vis-à-vis the legal environment, by gaining written consent for use, processing, and sharing of the data.

A sample consent statement for a survey or questionnaire is provided, as well as an example information letter from the British Household Panel Survey. Various examples of consent forms used in major surveys are available via the Survey Question Bank (SQB).

VIEW CONSENT STATEMENT

VIEW INFORMATION LETTER

VIEW SQB CONSENT FORMS