The norms regarding acceptable levels of payment include:
- Reimbursement for transportation and parking.
- Reimbursement for time away from work or other activities.
- Reimbursement as an incentive for participation. This incentive pay is looked at closely, to make sure that subject populations are not coerced as a result of their financial situation into participating in the research.
Note: In most cases, reimbursement is more acceptable pro-rated.
Lump sums are given only upon completion of the entire research project are generally not acceptable by the IRBMED, and investigators will be asked to revise lump-sum payments to be less coercive.