Is it permissible to inform students about the study via teachers in a setting where teachers are not part of the research team and coercive pressure is unlikely?

• A. Yes
• B. No
• C. Not sure
• D. It depends

Answer: (A)

The idea being tested is that researchers can use people who are not part of the research team to help share information about a study, as long as participation remains voluntary and there is no undue pressure. In this scenario, informing students through teachers who aren’t involved in the study is permissible because the teachers are serving as neutral gatekeepers rather than recruiters or decision-makers. The key is that students should not feel obligated to participate because of the teachers’ authority, and the information must be presented neutrally with no pressure to join.

To make this ethically sound, the study should provide clear, balanced information about what participation would involve, possible risks and benefits, and how to contact the research team for questions. Importantly, consent should be obtained directly from the student (or a parent/guardian when appropriate), not solely through the teacher, and privacy protections must be maintained. The gatekeeper’s role is to inform and direct interested students to the research team, not to influence their decision or collect consent.