Abstract The examination of high-frequency repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) as a treatment for long-term smoking cessation is promising but requires extensive participant commitment. Participant research burden impacts participants' engagement, compliance with study protocols, retention, and the generalizability of findings. Important groups such as those with fewer resources and members of marginalized groups are disproportionately affected by research burden in many studies. Understanding the impact of research burden is key to robust and generalizable findings. This project investigates the research burden experienced by participants enrolled in a study examining the optimal dosing of rTMS for long-term smoking cessation. The study utilized a double-blind, sham-controlled, factorial, randomized design. The effects of treatment duration (8, 12, or 16 days of stimulation), treatment intensity (900 or 1800 pulses per day), and active/sham assignment on perceived research burden were examined across 6 months of study participation. The Perceived Research Burden Assessment was used to measure research burden. Participants (n=51) were primarily middle-aged (M=50.53); 62.7% were female, 68.6% were white, 48% had household income < $24,999. The mean anticipated research burden, collected at baseline (M=34.12, SD=15.62), was significantly greater than the experienced research burden, collected at the 6-month outcome assessment (M=26.50, SD=8.80), t=3.53, p=.001). Repeated-measures ANOVA revealed no main effects or interactions among time, (F=2.18, p=.15), active or sham condition, (F=.19, p=.68), duration (F=.06, p=.95), intensity (F=1.27, p=.30), race (F=.07, p=.80), or income (F=.17, p=.85) on perceived research burden. High intensity and duration of rTMS combined with a 6-month longitudinal commitment do not appear to produce undue participant burden. No differential burden was observed among racial minorities and lower-income cigarette smokers seeking to quit. Factors that might have mediated perceived burden include highly motivated participants, the novelty of the intervention, consistent positive contact with research personnel, adequate financial compensation, reminder appointments, free parking, and flexible scheduling. Keywords: transcranial magnetic stimulation, stimulation, smoking cessation, Participant research burden