Online Survey Consent Form

An electronic consent form should be placed on a separate survey page before the first question of the survey (so the participants do not see any questions before they agree to participate).  It should be short and concise.  Think about the text allowed to be seen clearly on a phone screen.  If the survey software permits, you can attach a longer version if necessary, so the participants may save it for themselves. 

The necessity of an extended consent form is determined based on the information or opinions you want to ask.  If the information may influence persons' employability or pertains to some sensitive personal information regarding health or family history, you may request a signature to confirm the volunteer consent.  Yet, many surveys do not contain sensitive information.  Asking about opinions on common products, music, apps, time spent watching TV is, in general, not sensitive.  Thus, the consent form can be limited to the necessary information.

Going by the rule of thumb, the consent form should tell about the weight of the information that will be requested in the survey.   If you collect sensitive information, the consent form should be detailed and signed.   If the collected data is not sensitive, a short agreement is sufficient.

Sample Online Consent Forms

An example of a very short consent form 

"By selecting the “Agree” button below, you indicate that you are at least 18 and that you voluntarily participate in this survey"

An example of a moderate consent form 

"Hello, my name is … …, and I am a student in the … Department/Program at Felician University.  The purpose of this survey is to determine …. The Felician University IRB has reviewed and approved this research.

The survey should take no more than 5-10 minutes.  Your responses are anonymous.  You are not required to answer every question, and you may discontinue your participation in the project at any time without penalty.  

By selecting the “Agree” button below, you indicate that you are at least 18, you read the information above, and your participation is voluntary"

An example of a comprehensive consent form 

"Hello, my name is … …, and I am a student in the … Department/Program at Felician University.  As part of my research required for my senior project, I am conducting a survey to determine ….

The Felician University Institutional Review Board for the Protection of Human Subjects (IRB) has reviewed and approved this research and your instructor has given me permission to carry out my study in this class.  To participate, you must be 18 years of age or older.  Participation in this study is voluntary.  Whether or not you choose to participate in this study, your choice will have no effect upon your standing in this class or at Felician University.  

Completing this survey should take more than 5-10 minutes.  You are not required to answer every question and you may withdraw at any time when the questions make you feel uncomfortable.  If you choose to participate in the study, both you and your responses will remain anonymous.  Please do not put your name or any other identifying marks anywhere on the survey form.  Any identifying information, such as IP address/email address[1], will be de-linked from survey data.

If you have any questions about the project, you may contact me at …, my faculty advisor, …, or the Chairperson of Felician University’s IRB ....

By selecting the “Agree” button below, you indicate that you are at least 18 years of age and, after reading the information above, you agree to participate in this research"

Expressing the Participant’s Consent in an Online Survey 

Online surveys have a simplified version of the consent form that does not require a signature per se; instead, it is an “Agree” or “Yes” button located under concise information about the survey.  Only the “Agree” button takes volunteers to the survey questions (see below).   The “Agree” button expresses the consent of the person who got the link and is an accepted equivalent of a signature.  If the survey was accessed from a QR code on a poster or a link on a website, and the IP is restricted, it may be classified as an anonymous response.