Theme: Social Science & Policy Research Year: 2024
Background: While compensation for research participation is common, the type and amount of compensation provided can vary substantially. This is notable given the potential for compensation to unduly influence participation in research, particularly for vulnerable populations, including people who are incarcerated. Given the lack of standardized compensation practices among incarcerated populations, it is important to conduct community-engaged research to better understand the potential impacts of different compensation approaches.
Methods: To this end, we conducted interviews (N=21) with cisgender men who reported a history of injection drug use and were experiencing incarceration at the Rhode Island Department of Corrections intake facility. Interviews lasted approximately 45 minutes and covered topics including ethical approaches to conducting research among people with a history of injection drug use, mechanisms for compensating research participants experiencing incarceration, and ethical amounts to reimburse research participants in carceral settings. Interviews were transcribed, deductively coded, and analyzed using a framework matrix approach.
Results: Participants were largely favorable towards compensating individuals enrolled in research in the carceral settings, although they noted the possibility of compensation introducing undue influence. Participants had varying views on methods as well as monetary compensation values for individuals participating in research individuals for participating in research; their recommendations included financial compensation, hygiene products, snacks, and reduced-price medication. Most participants preferred financial compensation. Regarding appropriate compensation for participating in a one-hour, low-risk research activity, participants volunteered a wide range of amounts from $4 to $250. When asked about the threshold for causing undue influence as payment for a one-hour, low-risk research activity, the dollar amount ranged from $20-$2000.
Conclusion: By centering the perspectives of people who are incarcerated and participate in research, this study can inform both those conducting research among populations experiencing incarceration and institutional review boards or carceral institutions developing policies for research compensation.
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