Drawings as Incentives for Research Participation

A drawing style format may only be used as a research recruitment incentive if potential participants can elect to participate in the drawing without being required to participate in the research to be eligible to win. (For information on incentives not presented as a drawing see Human Subjects Incentive Guidance)

To use a drawing as an incentive within the law –

• The IRB narrative recruitment section must include a description of how individuals, including those who do not consent to participate in the research, will be notified of the drawing and provided with access to participate. Everyone who elects to participate in the drawing must have an equal chance of winning all prizes.
• The informed consent must include statements that participation is not required to enter the drawing, that participants will remain eligible to win even if they withdraw from the study before completion, and state how non-participants can enter into the drawing.
• The drawing must be conducted in a way that does not compromise any participant anonymity or confidentiality that is promised within the approved protocol.
• The research may not include activities that are more than minimal risk and may not include participants who are under the age of 18.

Georgia Southern IRB will not approve an incentive strategy that meets the definition of a lottery or raffle
under Georgia law.

Under Georgia Code 16-12-22.1 (b)(3) – a lottery or “raffle” means any scheme or procedure whereby one or more prizes are distributed by chance among persons who have paid or promised consideration for a chance to win such a prize. For research – that consideration would be the participants time and knowledge.

Related FAQ – Human Subjects Incentive Guidance

Last updated: 11/14/2023