What is Passive Consent? Passive consent is the process whereby consent is given by not
returning an “opt-out” or “withdrawal” form. In other words, parents are given the opportunity to
withdraw their child from the research. If they do not withdraw their child, then the researchers
can include the child in the research. This differs from active consent, which requires that parents
confirm in writing their permission for their child to participate in research. Many CBOs and
school districts now use passive consent rather than active consent in order to secure the
participation of students in important research. A sample withdrawal form is included on the CD
of prototype materials included with this guide.