Informed consent should take the form of a friendly, easily understood communication process with competent participants. Ideally it should be a verbal exchange between researcher and subject, with a written summary of the information for the subject to keep. When written, it should be brief and simply phrased at a reading level that the least literate subject can understand.
The informed consent process ideally should involve a discussion that provides a basis for subjects to decide about study participation. Sometimes subjects and researchers do not have face-to-face contact and a written consent needs to contain clearly written information for the potential participant to decide whether or not to participate Subjects should be given adequate time to consider the information provided and should also have an opportunity to ask questions. If signed consent forms are appropriate, signing the form should not be perfunctory, unreflecting and automatic. When written documentation of informed consent would be the only identifiable link to research participants, it may increase risk and in some circumstances should be avoided.
Research participation in most social-behavioral research involves time and possibly some inconvenience and discomfort. An adequate informed consent process can sort out those who would gladly participate from those who wish to opt out. Persons may agree to undertake some risks or inconveniences, which they would reject if unilaterally imposed upon them.