The question of how—and how much—to compensate research participants is far from settled. While undue influence remains a central concern, too little compensation can be equally problematic—failing to respect participants’ time, reinforcing inequities, and limiting recruitment from underrepresented groups. What truly constitutes "undue influence"?  Should compensation only reflect time and inconvenience, or also acknowledge risk?  Do higher payments undermine voluntariness, or do they simply acknowledge the realities of participation? This session will examine current debates alongside emerging trends, including reimbursement versus compensation, digital wallet payments, gamification, and punitive terms of payment. Drawing on ethical frameworks, regulatory guidance, and real-world case examples, we will provide attendees with practical tools to evaluate and justify compensation strategies that withstand scrutiny while supporting participant trust and engagement.

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speaker:

• Robert Romanchuk, CIP, BSHS, Chairperson, Regulatory Director, Univo IRB