The use of giftcards for compensation during research
Researchers have an ethical duty of confidentiality to participants which includes safeguarding their information. This includes identifying information that could lead to participants’ identification (e.g. names, email/physical addresses). The Panel on Research Ethics requires researchers to submit a coded list of participants who received incentives to satisfy both ethical and institutional financial reporting requirements for the use of funds to pay for incentives to participants.
MRU uses Everything Card which is a web-based gift card platform that allows researchers to deliver a gift card code to a participant’s inbox. The code allows the recipient to choose from a wide variety of merchant cards in the denomination.
To start:
- Send a request to research finance analyst with the denomination and number of cards and FOAP being charged
- ORSCE will prepare a requisition and submit it to Accounts Payable to initiate the process (accountspayable@mtroyal.ca)
- Accounts Payable will let you know once your funds are deposited with Everything Card and your “group” has been set up. The PI or department contact would be set up as the manager of the group. The process normally takes a week.
Once Accounts Payable has assigned the group and manager (PI), the manager will be able to login to the platform. They will also provide a username and password and a user manual to PI.
Compensation for Indigenous Peoples
Concerning an honorarium or gift to an external Elder or other Indigenous Peoples or groups, please see the Indigenous Cultural Disbursement Form. The form can be viewed on this page. If you have any questions, please contact Human Resources.