Informed Consent in the Digital Age: A Web and Language Accessibility Analysis of Electronic Consent Documents

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Informed Consent in the Digital Age: A Web and Language Accessibility Analysis of Electronic Consent Documents

First Page

1

Last Page

26

Publication Date

2-12-2026

Abstract

Informed consent is foundational to ethical human subjects research; however, the digital shift toward electronic informed consent documents (eICDs) has introduced new challenges for accessibility and comprehension. This study evaluates the web and language accessibility of eICDs used in Communication research, a domain that increasingly relies on online recruitment and digital data collection. Guided by federal accessibility standards, including the ADA Title II updates and WCAG 2.1 Level AA guidelines, we conducted a content analysis of 60 IRB-approved eICDs disseminated through nationally promoted Communication studies between 2023 and 2025.    Readability was assessed using four standardized indices (e.g., Flesch–Kincaid Reading Ease and Grade Level, Gunning Fog Index, Automated Readability Index), and web accessibility was evaluated using WebAIM’s WAVE tool. Results show that readability levels regularly exceed recommended public-facing thresholds, with non-compensated studies exhibiting significantly more complex language than compensated ones. Web accessibility concerns were substantial, totaling 489 WCAG errors, most commonly missing or empty form labels and absent alternative text—barriers that impede screen-reader compatibility and inclusive participation. No eICDs incorporated supportive messaging for individuals with disabilities or limited English proficiency, reflecting an absence of inclusion-oriented communication despite regulatory requirements.    These findings highlight persistent gaps in digital informed consent design that restrict participant comprehension, diminish agency, and risk excluding individuals with impairments, low literacy, or language barriers. Improving eICDs through accessible design, plain-language principles, and participant-centered communication strategies is essential to advancing equity and ethical integrity in digital research environments.

Publication Information

Mason, A. M., Ortiz, J., & Rainey, H. (2026). Informed Consent in the Digital Age: A Web and Language Accessibility Analysis of Electronic Consent Documents SSRN. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.6227199 Publication Date: February 12, 2026 https://ssrn.com/abstract=6227199 http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.6227199

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