What is a vulnerable population
People who are considered vulnerable are those who require greater protection than normal against the potential risks of participation. For example, they may have difficulty providing voluntary, informed consent due limitations in decision-making capacity or situational circumstances or because they are especially at risk for exploitation. Vulnerabilities ultimately relate to challenges to the ethical principles of respect for persons, beneficence, and justice. Some common vulnerable populations include:
- Subordinates of the researcher (e.g., students, employees)
- Pregnant Women
- Individuals who are incarcerated (i.e., prisoners)
- Individuals with a debilitating mental health/psychiatric condition (e.g., PTSD, depression, bipolar disorder, etc.)
- Individuals with a cognitive impairment
- Residents of a facility (such as a mental health facility, nursing home, treatment center, etc.)
- Individuals with a life-threatening illness or condition (e.g., cancer, HIV/AIDS)
- Individuals who are educationally or economically disadvantaged
- Older Adults (people over 65 years of age)
- Indigenous Peoples
- Individuals who have experienced traumatic events (e.g., abuse, death, natural disasters)
- Individuals involved in a crisis (e.g., war, natural disaster)
- Veterans
- Homeless/Unsheltered individuals
- Individuals who identify as LGBTQ+(Lesbian,Gay,Bisexual,Transgender, Queer/Questioning)
- Immigrants or Refugees
- Individuals who are not fluent in the language the study is being conducted in (e.g., non- English speakers in studies conducted in the United States)
- Individuals with diagnosable addictions
If you are proposing to work with a vulnerable population, you will need to demonstrate to the IRB that your procedures are ethically sound, that the risks to participants are as minimal as possible, and that the scientific contributions and potential benefits of your study are significant enough to warrant exposing vulnerable individuals to the risks and burden of participation.
See Appendix Bfor additional information related to work with sensitive topics and vulnerable populations.
Aspen University does not allow studies or projects that require a participant
to introduce a substance into their body, whether orally, topically, by injection, or any other means (e.g., supplements, medication, food, suppositories, etc.).