The Belmont Report Principle #2: Beneficence

The beneficence principle is about the benefits and risks of the research project for participants.

Figure 2.1. Information to Be Included in an Informed Consent Form

An informed consent form should include the information in the above chart: Participants should be made aware of any risks and benefits of the study.

Consider the following factors when designing your research.

• Would the survey cause high-level stress because of questionnaire contents?
• Would participants experience anxiety, as some questions might bring back past memories or remind them of issues that are sources of anxiety for them?
• Could participation in the study cause delusions or have other psychological effects?
• Could any of the questions be perceived as an invasion of privacy? Is deception necessary in the study? In some studies it is necessary, but avoid it if it is not really necessary.

If there are potential problems like the ones above, you should think about the following:

• How to minimize them.
• How to compensate for them. (Paying participants for their participation may be an option.)