What do "honorary payments" refer to in research?

Honorary payments in research refer to compensations provided to participants for their time, effort, and contribution to the study. These payments serve to acknowledge the participants' involvement while ensuring they do not create undue influence on their decision to participate. It is crucial that such payments reflect respect for the participants and support for their engagement rather than act as coercive incentives.

By maintaining a balance, these payments help uphold ethical standards in human subjects research, as they encourage participation without compromising the voluntary nature of the involvement. Honorary payments are typically designed to ensure fairness and to promote the integrity of the research process.

In contrast, payments for research supplies are associated with funding for materials needed for the study, not for participant compensation. Bonus salaries for researchers pertain to additional compensation based on performance or funding achievements, rather than participant remuneration. Scholarships for student participants are financial aid aimed at supporting educational expenses, which differs from compensatory payments for involvement in research activities.