Inclusive AI Consent: Adaptive, Accessible Consent for Diverse Research Participants

Wei Wang - Monash University, Melbourne, AU

• Professor Charmine Hartel - Monash University, Melbourne, AU

Monash Business School 2026 ECA Research Grant

• AU$9,992

Before people join a research study, they need to understand what the study is about and what they are agreeing to.

Consent forms can be hard to read. They often use long sentences, legal words, and a lot of information at once. This can make consent difficult for people with low literacy, disability, limited English, sensory needs, or stress during recruitment.

This project will test whether AI can help turn standard consent information into clearer formats. These may include plain language, Easy Read text, audio, video, captions, and guided steps.

People will still check the AI output. This is important because consent information must stay accurate, safe, and ethical.

• The person gets information in a format they can understand.
• The person can ask questions or choose what to read next.
• The research team can check that important rights and risks are still included.
• The project will compare this approach with standard consent materials.

The current work is about designing and testing the consent process.

The project will look at whether people understand the information better, whether the format is easier to use, and whether the approach can be used in Australian research settings.

• Design consent content with accessibility in mind.
• Create text, audio, video, caption, and support options.
• Test the prototype with users.
• Create guidance for other research teams.