Blog

Informed Consent 101: Protecting People, Not Just Checking Boxes

May 14th, 2025
Whether you’re conducting a student survey or a large-scale community evaluation, informed consent is more than a check-the-box requirement. It’s a cornerstone of ethical research and a signal that you respect the dignity, autonomy, and well-being of your participants. Let’s unpack what informed consent really means, why it matters, and how to do it well—especially … more »
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How To Handle Participant Complaints + Adverse Events In Research

Apr 1st, 2025
Ethical research isn’t just about designing sound studies and obtaining IRB approval—it’s also about ensuring the safety, dignity, and well-being of participants throughout the research process. When participants raise concerns or experience adverse events, how researchers respond can make all the difference. Let’s start with some definitions: In a perfect world, researchers wouldn’t have to … more »
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What Does Your 2025 Strategic Planning Need?

Mar 24th, 2025
We all know that strategic planning can feel like an enormous undertaking. Engagement sessions and frameworks and logic models, oh my! (That’s why we offer support around strategic planning – so you don’t have to go it alone!) If you’re going to go through all that, you’d want the resulting plan to be truly great. … more »
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Vulnerable Populations and How We Protect Them in Research

Feb 3rd, 2025
Protecting vulnerable populations in research isn’t just the right thing to do—it’s essential for ensuring ethical integrity and credible outcomes. Neglecting these safeguards can lead to significant harm for participants and lasting damage to organizations. Let’s explore who these vulnerable groups are, why they need extra care, and how researchers can implement best practices to … more »
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