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Delegated observation means that a trained staff member has been assigned specific items to watch for and document during a research visit. The observer reports those observations through the clinic and research team so an investigator can assess them. It does not mean the observer is independently making clinical judgments or deciding what the information means for your participation.
A research protocol is the study's written plan. It may identify what staff should observe, when observations occur, which forms are used, and how information is communicated. Clinic procedures work alongside that plan to organize the visit. The people in the room and the frequency of check-ins can differ from one study visit to another, so ask about your own appointment.
At Mood Institute, rater and monitoring activities occur only when delegated. A medical assistant may describe and communicate observations under the study and clinic process. Investigators make assessments and clinical decisions. This division of roles helps participants know whom to ask for practical visit guidance and whom to ask when a question requires an investigator or clinician.
Before a research visit, ask who may be present, what the protocol requires staff to observe, how often staff will check in, and how a concern reaches a clinician or investigator. You can also ask whom to contact before the visit if you have a logistical question. Use the study team's designated contact route for study-related communication rather than sending participant details through Mood Guide or general contact fields.
During the visit, describe what you are experiencing in your own words. You do not need to interpret it for the research team or decide whether it belongs on a study form. The observer's role is to record and route information accurately; the investigator's role is to assess it. Bring any remaining questions to the study team before you leave or before the next scheduled visit.