Economically Or Educationally Disadvantaged Persons
The U.S.
Department of Health and
Human Services (HHS) federal regulations pertaining to the protection of
human subjects
refer to the need for special precautions when persons characterized as
vulnerable are used as human research subjects.
Persons considered "vulnerable" are those who are
likely to be susceptible to coercive or undue influence; these include those
who are economically or educationally disadvantaged.
When proposed research projects seek
to recruit individuals who would be categorized as economically or
educationally disadvantaged, the IRB will expect that safeguards are in place
to protect these prospective subjects from coercion or undue influence to
participate in the study.