Recruitment for Interested Research Participants

Becoming a Research Participant

Thank you for your interest in the Sociology Department's research projects! Being a research participant is a great way to contribute to the University of Toronto's research in Sociology.  And, volunteering through the Current Projects section allows you the opportunity to get involved in a topic that you are passionate about!

As a volunteer research participant, you will be connected with a Lead Researcher for a current or upcoming project that has been approved by the University and possibly also funded by a research grant. The information you provide will remain completely confidential, and accessible only through a password-protected database. Being a participant is not an intensive job; you will have the opportunity to work with the Lead Researcher to determine a schedule that works for both of you, and your participation will typically only be required once. 

Volunteer Opportunities

To volunteer as a research participant in a particular project, please consult the Current Projects section below. 

Current Projects

The following projects are currently recruiting research participants. Instructions for volunteering are included within each attached project description document.  

Research Ethics

Human research ethics at the University of Toronto (U of T) is founded on the following core principles:

  • Respect for persons: recognizing the intrinsic value of human beings and the respect and consideration they are due
  • Concern for welfare: caring about the quality of all people’s experience of life in all of its aspects
  • Justice: the obligation to treat people fairly and equitably

These core principles are the foundation of the University’s secondary research ethics principles which are listed below. The secondary principles are considerations discussed and deliberated on in the ethical review and approval process for all research studies that include human participants. 

  • Free and informed consent
  • Fairness and equity in research participation
  • Privacy and confidentiality
  • Attending to Conflicts of interest
  • Addressing Risks and benefits
  • Compensation
  • Dissemination of research results

For further information about our human research ethics:

  1. Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans – TCPS 2 (2018)
  2. University of Toronto Ethics Office
  3. Research Coordinator, Dept. of Sociology, University of Toronto