---
title: Conducting Ethical Research with Vulnerable Participants | Angelfish
description: Learn how to ethically recruit and research vulnerable participants, from informed consent and accessibility to safeguarding and participant wellbeing.
image: https://info.angelfishfieldwork.com/hubfs/114.png
---

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# How to Conduct Ethical Research with Vulnerable Participants

 in [Audiences](https://info.angelfishfieldwork.com/market-research-fieldwork-blog/topic/audiences)  by [Emma Coombes](https://info.angelfishfieldwork.com/market-research-fieldwork-blog/author/emma-coombes)

Vulnerability in research describes circumstances that may make it harder for someone to participate safely, comfortably or on fully informed terms. It can be long-term, temporary or situational – and it can affect anyone, depending on their circumstances and the research itself.

For qualitative research to be genuinely inclusive, it’s important to consider vulnerable participants at every stage of the process: from defining your [audience and recruitment approach](https://angelfishfieldwork.com/audience-research/) through to screening, informed consent, accessibility, fieldwork and safeguarding.

That could mean adapting communications for someone with low literacy, providing additional support to a participant with a health condition, allowing more time for someone to make an informed decision, or thinking carefully about how a sensitive research topic might affect the people taking part.

In this article, we’ll look at what participant vulnerability means in market research, why ethical research matters and seven practical considerations for conducting research with vulnerable participants safely, inclusively and respectfully.

## What is a vulnerable participant in market research?

The [MRS Best Practice Guide on Research Participant Vulnerability](https://www.mrs.org.uk/standards/mrs-best-practice-guide-Research-Participant-Vulnerability) describes vulnerability as a complex and dynamic state which can affect anyone at any time.

That means participant vulnerability isn’t restricted to one demographic or a neat list of ‘vulnerable groups’.

It might be **long-term**, for example where someone has a learning disability, long-term health condition, low literacy level or faces cultural barriers to participation.

It can also **fluctuate**, perhaps because of mental health difficulties, changing health, language barriers or a lack of reliable internet access.

Or it may be **situational and short-term**, following events such as bereavement, loss of income, relationship breakdown or taking on caring responsibilities.

Importantly, vulnerability is contextual. [UKRI guidance on research with potentially vulnerable people](https://www.ukri.org/councils/esrc/guidance-for-applicants/research-ethics-guidance/research-with-potentially-vulnerable-people/) recommends considering it on a case-by-case basis, including how the research itself could affect a participant.

In other words: assess the person and the research context, rather than making assumptions about an entire group.

This starts with identifying exactly who you need to speak to. Our guide to [identifying your market research audience](https://info.angelfishfieldwork.com/market-research-fieldwork-blog/how-to-identify-market-research-audience) explains how to define that audience before recruitment begins.

## Why does ethical research with vulnerable participants matter?

Good ethical practice isn’t just about compliance.

It helps protect people from unnecessary distress, builds trust between participants and researchers and creates the conditions for people to contribute openly and honestly.

That can ultimately lead to better research, too.

The MRS Code requires reasonable precautions to protect participants from harm or adverse effects. Its vulnerability guidance goes further by encouraging researchers to recognise individual needs and adapt research accordingly.

The principle is simple: people shouldn’t have to overcome unnecessary barriers or put their wellbeing at risk to have their voices heard.

![Researcher speaking with a participant during a qualitative research interview](https://info.angelfishfieldwork.com/hs-fs/hubfs/115.png?width=1200&height=628&name=115.png)

## 7 considerations when researching vulnerable participants

### 1. Assess vulnerability before recruitment begins

Don’t wait until someone is sitting in an interview to start considering their needs.

Think about potential risks, accessibility requirements and support needs before writing the screener, participant communications or discussion guide.

Most importantly, avoid assuming that everyone who shares a characteristic will have the same needs. Vulnerability should be considered in the context of the specific person, topic and methodology.

### 2. Make informed consent genuinely understandable

Consent should never be a box someone ticks without really understanding what comes next.

Explain the research in plain English, tailor information to the audience and consider layered consent where a study is particularly complicated or sensitive.

Give people plenty of opportunity to ask questions and, where appropriate, time to discuss participation with a trusted relative, carer or supporter. UKRI specifically recommends giving potentially vulnerable participants time and support to make their own informed decision.

And remember: consent is a process, not a one-off task.

That means reinforcing it throughout the participant journey – for example, in the screener, during a validation call and again as part of the confirmation process. For longer or more sensitive studies, there may be further opportunities to check that participants are still comfortable taking part.

### 3. Make participation accessible

Accessibility should be considered from recruitment onwards, not added at the last minute.

That could mean offering large-print or easy-to-read information, translated materials, interpreters, telephone rather than online-only sign-up, flexible interview formats or accessible research platforms. The MRS guidance specifically recommends considering different formats based on individual participant needs.

Where appropriate, you may also need to accommodate a carer or trusted supporter and consider how their involvement affects the research experience.

This is particularly important for digitally excluded audiences. We explore this further in our guide to [engaging non-tech audiences in online research](https://info.angelfishfieldwork.com/market-research-fieldwork-blog/engage-non-tech-audiences-in-online-qualitative-research).

### 4. Keep the right to decline or withdraw visible

Participants should know they can say no — and that saying no won’t have negative consequences.

For vulnerable audiences, simply mentioning the right to withdraw in the original invitation isn’t always enough. Signpost it throughout the process, particularly before sensitive tasks or discussions.

The MRS guidance is clear that participants should be able to withdraw from research at any time without giving a reason.

### 5. Take extra care with sensitive subjects

If you’re researching trauma, abuse, health, bereavement, financial hardship or another sensitive experience, participants should understand what they’re agreeing to before they are recruited.

Be transparent in invitations and confirmation communications about the broad subject matter and what participation may involve.

During the research itself, avoid unnecessary probing, allow people to skip questions and pay attention to signs of discomfort or distress.

Depending on the topic, it may also be appropriate to prepare relevant support information that participants can access during or after the research. For example, research involving mental health or emotional distress might include signposting to organisations such as [Mind](https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/) or [Samaritans](https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/), while other topics may require different specialist support.

The important thing is to think about this before fieldwork begins, rather than waiting until a participant becomes distressed or makes a disclosure. Both MRS and [Research Live](https://www.research-live.com/article/features/safeguarding-how-to-protect-vulnerable-research-participants/id/5104512) highlight the value of planning appropriate support and signposting for sensitive studies.

### 6. Have clear safeguarding procedures

Sensitive projects sometimes raise situations nobody can predict.

What happens if a participant discloses abuse? What if they appear to be at significant risk? Who makes the decision about what happens next?

These questions need answering before fieldwork begins.

Your team should understand its safeguarding responsibilities, know the escalation route and be appropriately trained for the project. [Research Live guidance](https://www.research-live.com/article/features/safeguarding-how-to-protect-vulnerable-research-participants/id/5104512) also recommends knowing who the safeguarding lead is and documenting safeguarding decisions.

Preparation makes it much easier to respond calmly and appropriately if something unexpected happens.

### 7. Work with an experienced recruitment partner

Ethical research starts long before the moderator says hello.

Recruitment is where participants first learn what the study is about, decide whether it feels right for them and explain any support they may need.

A good recruitment partner should help you think through feasibility, participant communications, screening, consent and accessibility — as well as finding people who meet the criteria.

For more on complex recruitment, take a look at our guides to [recruiting niche audiences](https://info.angelfishfieldwork.com/market-research-fieldwork-blog/recruit-niche-audiences-market-research) and [recruiting hard-to-reach audiences for qualitative market research](https://info.angelfishfieldwork.com/market-research-fieldwork-blog/recruiting-hard-to-reach-audiences-for-qualitative-market-research).

![Researcher conducting an accessible qualitative interview with a participant](https://info.angelfishfieldwork.com/hs-fs/hubfs/116.png?width=1200&height=628&name=116.png)

## Common mistakes to avoid

Some of the biggest mistakes in vulnerable audiences research are surprisingly simple:

- Assuming an entire demographic is vulnerable
- Using participant communications that aren’t accessible
- Treating informed consent as a one-off checkbox
- Failing to ask about individual accessibility requirements
- Going into fieldwork without a safeguarding plan
- Focusing only on recruitment criteria rather than participant wellbeing
- Excluding people unnecessarily when the methodology could instead be adapted

Often, ethical and inclusive research isn’t about completely redesigning a project. It’s about asking the right questions early enough to make sensible adjustments.

## Creating safer, more inclusive research

Research with vulnerable participants isn’t about eliminating every possible risk.

It’s about recognising where vulnerability might exist, considering the individual circumstances involved and creating a research experience that is ethical, accessible and respectful.

When research teams plan carefully, adapt where necessary and put participant wellbeing at the heart of the process, people are better able to contribute safely and meaningfully – and the research is stronger for it.

## Need support recruiting vulnerable, hard-to-reach or specialist participant audiences?

At Angelfish Fieldwork, [participant recruitment](https://angelfishfieldwork.com/research-participant-recruitment/) is about much more than finding people who tick the right boxes.

We’re a RAS-accredited UK research recruitment agency, and every participant we put forward is human-validated by our trained in-house team before taking part. Our approach combines carefully designed screeners, validation calls and clear participant communication to help make sure people understand the research, meet the criteria and feel comfortable taking part.

We recruit from our own established participant community, Angelfish Opinions, as well as through referrals and targeted recruitment where appropriate. You can [explore our latest community stats here](https://info.angelfishfieldwork.com/community-stats).

For projects involving vulnerable or sensitive audiences, we can also work with research teams from the briefing stage to think through participant communications, accessibility, consent and any additional support that may be needed during recruitment.

[Explore how we approach audience research recruitment](https://angelfishfieldwork.com/audience-research/) or [get in touch](https://info.angelfishfieldwork.com/market-research-fieldwork-quote%5d) to talk through your next brief.

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