overkill - a written informed consent

http://cliniversity.com/wp/training-informed-consent-overview-and-process/

Sooo, as we sat and chatted casually over shopska salad (tomatoes, cucumbers, feta and onion - my favorite) with two photographers and their partners the issue of the absolute need (my need) to sign consent forms somehow popped in. After a hearty laugh (at me) the comment was: "life in America has deformed you. Or may be we are deformed and don't know it yet). Time to unlearn the learned?

Two research classes and several different projects all connected with interviewing and research have helped me learn well key ethical elements of interviewing - a written outline of the research and a signed consent form. The power of the written word.

According to the Institutional Review Board at Easter Mennonite University:"An Informed Consent Letter describes procedures for informing participants about the purpose of the research and for obtaining their consent to participate. Note: You must also obtain participants’ permission to 1) audio/videotape or photograph them and 2) use any of the recordings or images in presentations or publications."

The IRB provides a template to follow and then off course a place to sign and date. I diligently created a form both in English and Bulgarian.

Why not sign? The population we are talking of is over 80, signing papers makes people much more suspicious regarding your motives and the profit you will make out of them. A grandma once signed some papers for an ID to find out that they had made her sign her land away to someone...

What is the alternative?

Be creative and flexible -

Ask for consent in a form understandable and appropriate to the population you are interviewing. If recording the interviews is OK make sure you explain the process and what you want from them and record it - their verbal acceptance is as good as a written one.

Abuse of trust can happen with or without the paperwork - the integrity of the interviewer is not tied to the paperwork, but is rather an internal commitment to respect the subjects and give back to them what you promise. It used to be enough in their time.

Alex and a grandma going home from work in the field