Can participants sign electronically?

Yes. Electronic signatures are legally valid under the federal ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and UETA where adopted, provided intent, consent, attribution, and record retention requirements are met.

Do we need IRB approval?

If the project involves human subjects research as defined by your institution, obtain IRB or ethics board approval before recruitment; document the approval number and protocol on the form.

When is a BAA required?

If the questionnaire collects protected health information and the eSignature or storage platform will create, receive, maintain, or transmit PHI, execute a Business Associate Agreement per HIPAA rules.

How should I handle requests to withdraw consent?

Record withdrawal requests in writing, specify the effective date, and follow your IRB and repository policies for removing or restricting access to previously collected materials.

Are notarization or witnesses required?

Not usually required for research consent; however, specific institutional, legal, or funder conditions may demand notarization or witness signatures—confirm with counsel or IRB.

How long must records be kept?

Retention depends on project, funder, and legal obligations: follow federal standards (e.g., IRS 3 years) and HIPAA 6-year rule if applicable; institutional policy may require longer periods.

Electronic Signature
Templates
Miscellaneous
Social Research Slavery Questionnaire

Social Research Slavery Questionnaire

This template is fully customizable. Edit the text, fill out the fields, and send it for signature. Give it a try!

SOCIAL RESEARCH SLAVERY QUESTIONNAIRE

RECITALS

WHEREAS, Principal Investigator/Institution Name: (the "Researcher") seeks to conduct qualitative and quantitative research concerning historical and contemporary legacies of slavery in affected communities; and

WHEREAS, Participant Name: (the "Participant") has agreed to provide information, testimony, and responses in connection with the Researcher's study described herein; and

WHEREAS, the parties wish to set forth the scope of the research engagement, participant protections, compensation terms, confidentiality obligations, and the questionnaire to be used in the collection of data.

PARTICIPANT INFORMATION

Full Legal Name

Date of Birth

Residence Address

Contact Information

QUESTIONNAIRE — BACKGROUND & FAMILY HISTORY

1. Self-identified race/ethnicity (select all that apply):
African American / Black
Caribbean / Afro-Latinx
Multiracial
Other (please specify below)

2. Family, ancestral, or community history related to slavery (names of regions, plantations, known events, migration patterns, oral histories). Provide dates or generations where known. 3. To your knowledge, has any family member or ancestor been part of documented or oral accounts of enslavement, resistance, or related legal actions (e.g., manumission, court cases)? If yes, describe.

QUESTIONNAIRE — EXPERIENCES, PERCEPTIONS, IMPACT

4. Describe any personal or familial experiences of discrimination, economic disadvantage, social exclusion, or psychological impact that you attribute to the historical legacy of slavery. 5. Are you aware of any commemorative practices, reparative initiatives, or community efforts addressing slavery in your locality? If so, describe and indicate perceived effectiveness. 6. Additional notes, clarifications, or materials you wish to provide (documents, photographs, family trees). Indicate if any materials are subject to special restrictions.

CONSENT, DATA USE, AND CERTIFICATIONS

By checking the boxes below and signing this document, the Participant and Researcher certify the following terms governing participation, data handling, and publication.

Voluntary Participation

I confirm that I am participating voluntarily and understand that I may withdraw from the research at any time without penalty.

Audio/Video Recording Consent

I consent to audio and/or video recording of my interview or focus group contributions as part of this study.

Use of Data in Publications (Anonymized)

I consent to the use of my responses in research outputs provided identifying information is removed unless I have explicitly agreed to be identified in writing below.

Identified Publication (optional)

SCOPE OF WORK

The Researcher shall conduct interviews, focus groups, archival research, and analysis as necessary to meet the stated project objectives. The Researcher will collect, code, analyze, and report participant-provided information consistent with the protections described in this instrument.

Detailed scope (research activities, deliverables, expected participant involvement)

PAYMENT TERMS

Compensation to Participant (if applicable) and payment obligations of the Researcher are set forth below. All payments to Participant are contingent on completion of the agreed participation activities unless otherwise stated in writing.

Payment Amount Payment Schedule Late Payment Fee (if applicable)

TERM AND TERMINATION

This Agreement becomes effective on the Research Start Date and continues until the Research End Date, unless earlier terminated in accordance with the notice provisions below.

Research Start Date

Research End Date

Notice Period for Termination

CONFIDENTIALITY

The Researcher shall treat all personally identifying information as Confidential Information. The Researcher shall (a) de-identify Participant data for publication and archiving unless explicit written consent for identification is provided, (b) store sensitive data on secure systems with access limited to authorized project personnel, (c) retain raw data only for the period necessary to complete research and after publication in accordance with the retention schedule set forth below, and (d) promptly notify the Participant of any unauthorized disclosure of identifying information.

Data retention period and special restrictions

GOVERNING LAW

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the state of without regard to conflict of laws principles. Any dispute arising under this Agreement shall be resolved in the courts of that state, unless the parties agree in writing to alternative dispute resolution.

ENTIRE AGREEMENT

This instrument, together with any attachments and the written consents recorded herein, constitutes the entire agreement between the Researcher and the Participant with respect to the subject matter and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, whether written or oral. Any modification must be in writing and signed by both parties.

SIGNATURES

Researcher / Institution:

By:

Date:

Participant:

By:

Date:

What the Social Research Slavery Questionnaire Is

The Social Research Slavery Questionnaire is a structured survey instrument designed to collect historical, demographic, and experiential data related to slavery and its legacies for academic, archival, or community research. It organizes consent, respondent identifiers, closed- and open-ended items, and optional modules for trauma-sensitive interviewing. The form can be used in print or electronically and is intended to document respondent permissions, preserve provenance of oral histories, and produce reproducible datasets suitable for analysis while maintaining ethical and legal safeguards.

Why a Standardized Questionnaire Matters for Research Quality

A consistent Social Research Slavery Questionnaire improves data comparability, documents informed consent, and supports institutional review requirements while clarifying respondent protections under privacy and records law.

Who Typically Prepares or Completes This Questionnaire

Researchers and administrators use the questionnaire to gather standardized information, document consent, and manage sensitive records.

Academic researchers and graduate students conducting qualitative or quantitative studies involving historical or demographic analysis.
Archives and oral history projects capturing first-person accounts and provenance information for repository use.
Community organizations and museums collecting testimony, permissions, and release authorizations for exhibits or publications.

Completing the form with clear role attribution helps meet IRB, repository, and publisher expectations while preserving respondent rights.

Step-by-step: Completing the Questionnaire

Follow this ordered sequence to collect valid, ethical, and analyzable responses while documenting consent and data handling.

01

Prepare: Confirm IRB approval and review trauma-informed procedures before outreach.
02

Introduce: Provide study overview, consent information, and participant rights.
03

Record: Ask items verbatim and note clarifications or refusals.
04

Store: Securely save the signed form and any recordings per retention rules.

Core Components of a Professional Questionnaire

A robust instrument balances method clarity, consent, and data stewardship to meet ethical and archival standards.

Consent Section

Clear, plain-language consent describing purpose, use, publication rights, withdrawal procedures, and whether electronic consent is accepted under ESIGN and UETA frameworks.

Demographic Module

Standardized items for age, sex/gender, race/ethnicity, birthplace, and household to support comparability while allowing privacy masking where requested.

Historical Questions

Targeted prompts about family history, property, labor, and migration with optional probes for oral-history depth and source citations.

Trauma-Sensitive Notes

Guidance for interviewers on trigger warnings, optional skipping, referral resources, and minimizing re-traumatization during sensitive questioning.

Data Use and Restrictions

Explicit licensing or restrictions (e.g., embargo periods, restricted access) and required acknowledgments for future researchers or public exhibits.

Provenance Records

Fields capturing recorder identity, recording device, chain of custody, and permissions for deposit in archives or libraries.

Configuring the Questionnaire for Online Use

Set these workflow options before deployment to ensure authentication, conditional logic, and automated records.

Field	Configuration
Template Name	Use a clear title that includes project code and version
Conditional Logic	Enable skip patterns for sensitive modules and follow-up prompts
Email Authentication	Require email verification or SMS code for attribution
Auto-Reminders	Schedule reminder emails for incomplete responses

Typical Electronic Collection Flow

Electronic administration follows a predictable chain from invitation to archival deposit; plan each step to protect consent and data.

Upload: Host the questionnaire file or template in the chosen platform.
Invite: Send personalized links or allow walk-in kiosk completion.
Authenticate: Use email, SMS, or stronger methods to confirm identity.
Archive: Store signed records and recordings in secure repositories.

Technical Requirements and Compatibility

Confirm file formats, integrations, and signer authentication before launching the questionnaire platform.

Formats: PDF, DOCX, HTML supported
Integrations: Connect to cloud storage and CRMs
Authentication: Email, SMS, KBA available

Ensuring compatibility with repository workflows and secure storage reduces friction for researchers and participants.

Key Deadlines and Compliance Milestones

Track these timing requirements to meet institutional review, public release, and recordkeeping obligations.

IRB Approval:

Obtain approval before recruiting participants; IRB submission timelines vary by institution.

Consent Retention Start:

Retention begins on the signed consent date; document this clearly on each form.

Publication Embargoes:

Respect any agreed embargo period before making recordings or transcripts public.

Data Access Requests:

Respond to requests within institutional policy timeframes for restricted materials.

Notarization Timing:

If executed with notary requirements, complete notarization within the window specified by the notary or repository.

Common Preparation and Collection Mistakes to Avoid

Collecting sensitive personal health data without confirming HIPAA applicability or a Business Associate Agreement where required.
Using unclear consent language that fails to specify publication, access restrictions, or audio/video release terms.
Failing to record provenance details (interviewer, date, device) which later undermines archival integrity and citation.
Scheduling interviews without trauma-informed procedures, causing participant distress and incomplete responses.

Potential Legal and Administrative Risks

IRB Noncompliance: Institutional sanctions possible

HIPAA Violation: Civil penalties and BAA breach

Invalid Consent: Research unusable in publications

Data Breach: Notification and possible fines

Reputational Harm: Community trust erosion

Funding Risk: Grant suspension or clawback

Security and Compliance Controls for Electronic Records

Encryption: AES-256 at rest

In Transit: TLS 1.2/1.3

Audit Trail: Detailed signing history retained

Certifications: SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001

HIPAA Support: BAA available when required

21 CFR Part 11: Compliant controls supported

Comparing eSignature Platforms for Questionnaire Workflow

Platform selection affects cost, compliance, and capacity for bulk outreach; the table below compares core pricing and compliance features.

	signNow	DocuSign	Adobe Sign	PandaDoc	HelloSign
Starting Price	$8/user/mo	$15/user/mo	$14/user/mo	$19/user/mo	$15/user/mo
Free Trial	7-day free trial	Varies by vendor	Varies by vendor	Varies by vendor	Varies by vendor
Bulk Send	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Varies
Audit Trail	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
HIPAA Compliant	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to common questions about using, signing, and storing the Social Research Slavery Questionnaire.

Need help? Contact support

Can participants sign electronically?
Yes. Electronic signatures are legally valid under the federal ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and UETA where adopted, provided intent, consent, attribution, and record retention requirements are met.
Do we need IRB approval?
If the project involves human subjects research as defined by your institution, obtain IRB or ethics board approval before recruitment; document the approval number and protocol on the form.
When is a BAA required?
If the questionnaire collects protected health information and the eSignature or storage platform will create, receive, maintain, or transmit PHI, execute a Business Associate Agreement per HIPAA rules.
How should I handle requests to withdraw consent?
Record withdrawal requests in writing, specify the effective date, and follow your IRB and repository policies for removing or restricting access to previously collected materials.
Are notarization or witnesses required?
Not usually required for research consent; however, specific institutional, legal, or funder conditions may demand notarization or witness signatures—confirm with counsel or IRB.
How long must records be kept?
Retention depends on project, funder, and legal obligations: follow federal standards (e.g., IRS 3 years) and HIPAA 6-year rule if applicable; institutional policy may require longer periods.

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