23. I conduct research within an organization: what is the difference between the permission obtained from the organization’s authorities and the consent of the participants?

Distinction between Entry Agreement and Participant Consent

When conducting research with human participants within an organization (business, institution, association, school, etc.), it is often necessary to obtain the agreement or authorization from a person with authority in that organization (a person holding the status of “gatekeeper”).

The agreement to conduct research within an organization does not imply the consent of the members of that organization to participate in the research. The term “consent” implies the explicit agreement of the participants in the study; an organization cannot give consent on behalf of the participants. The Swiss Academy of Sciences’ Code of Scientific Integrity defines it as follows:

“Informed consent is a procedure by which a researcher obtains and maintains permission from a person, or their legal representative, for that person to participate in a research study” (ASS, 2020, p. 13).

Who are the Participants? Who Consents?

The participants, in other words, the individuals from whom consent should be obtained, are the people from whom data is collected.

In research conducted within an organization, the agreement is therefore not sufficient, and obtaining the consent of each participant is necessary (except in special cases, see FAQ-19).

A Suggestion for Further Reading:

Canadian Code “Ethics of Research Involving Humans”, Tri-Council Policy Statement (TCPS 2), 2022, https://ethics.gc.ca/fra/policy-politique_tcps2-eptc2_2022.html