Payment of Research Participants

When is it Ok to pay research participants?

The payment of participants to participate in research may be considered controversial, both in Australia and internationally, there is recognition that payment of participants to participate in research is increasingly common in Australia and elsewhere. It also recognises that arguments that payment, or excessive payment, of participants in research, is unethical and must be balanced against arguments that non-payment, or insufficient payment, may also be unethical.

The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) provides information for researchers and reviewers of research to assist in decision-making about when payment of participants in research is ethically acceptable in its guide: Payment of participants in research: information for researchers, HRECs and other ethics review bodies