Definition: Informed consent

Category: Statistical methodologies

Basic ethical tenet of scientific research on human populations. Sociologists do not involve a human being as a subject in research without the informed consent of the subject or the subject's legally authorized representative, except as otherwise specified. Informed consent refers to a person's agreement to allow personal data to be provided for research and statistical purposes. Agreement is based on full exposure of the facts the person needs to make the decision intelligently, including awareness of any risks involved, of uses and users of the data, and of alternatives to providing the data. http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/ramon/statmanuals/files/SDC_Handbook.pdf