How to develop user testing participant agreements

The two example agreements provided here are often used for user testing in the General Services Administration (GSA). Check with your agency’s lawyers in case there is specific language you need to include.

It is important to get a signed agreement if possible. However, if you are testing with people with varying literacy levels or from a vulnerable population, the participants may be reluctant to sign. Talk to your lawyers about alternatives to signing, such as securing informed verbal agreement. 

Sample agreement 1: Without participant compensation

This agreement relates to your participation in a [agency] design research project. The project will take place between [project start date] and [project end date]. Our session with you is scheduled for [session duration]. The project’s purpose is to better understand [research area]. We ask that you read, sign, and return this agreement so you know your rights and what to expect from us.

Please email or call us if you have any questions, concerns, or technical issues with signing. Contact info: [researcher name] [researcher email] [researcher phone].

Voluntary participation

You are not required to take part in this research project. You can end your participation or skip a question at any time. While we would love to hear your perspective, your participation is completely voluntary. If at any point you no longer wish to take part or want to skip a question, please let us know.

Compensation

We appreciate your participation. Your participation will be unpaid. You will not receive any form of compensation for joining us for this session. Your time and input make it possible for us to improve our services. By participating in this study, you agree to waive any right or claim relating to compensation for your participation in this study.

We will be using information from the sessions to understand what people expect and want from government programs and services. We use what we learn to help others understand what is important to support. We may use notes, quotes, and recordings from this session to support research and service improvements. 

Recordings

We would like to record this session. We may record video, audio, or photo recordings from this session to help us review our time together and make sure we understood what you shared. We may also share recordings to help tell stories about what people want and need. In all cases we will take written notes. We might share quotes from people we interviewed. Nothing shared will include your face or name. When the design research project is completed, we will delete the full recordings.

Please initial below if you approve recording this session. At any time during the session, you can ask us to stop recording, or you can end the discussion.

____ I approve recording this session.

Privacy

We will work to protect your privacy. We will remove information that could be used to identify you, such as your face or name. Your voice will not be removed if you approve the recording above.

Accessible accommodations

You can ask for accommodations. If you use assistive technology to access the internet, please bring those tools to the research session. If we can do anything to help you participate in the session or you need an interpreter, please let us know.

Withdrawal rights

You can withdraw your consent or change your mind about what you have shared with us. You can do this during the session, at the end of the session, or for a limited time after the session by contacting [researcher name] [researcher email] [researcher phone].

We appreciate you taking part in this session. Your perspective will help shape products and services for the public. Thank you very much for your time and feedback!

Your signature below means that you understand your rights and agree to the above.

__________________________

Printed name

__________________________

Signature

__________________________

Date

Sample agreement 2: With participant compensation

This agreement relates to your participation in a [agency] design research project. The project will take place between [project start date] and [project end date]. Our session with you is scheduled for [session duration]. The project’s purpose is to better understand [research area]. We ask that you read, sign, and return this agreement so you know your rights and what to expect from us.

Please email or call us if you have any questions, concerns, or technical issues with signing. Contact info: [researcher name] [researcher email] [researcher phone].

Voluntary participation

You are not required to take part in this research project. You can end your participation or skip a question at any time. While we would love to hear your perspective, your participation is completely voluntary. If at any point you no longer wish to take part or want to skip a question, please let us know.

Compensation

We appreciate your participation. We will compensate you for joining us for the session. We value your time and experience and will pay you [compensation amount] for this session, even if it ends earlier than scheduled. Payment will be made by [describe how they will receive payment]. We estimate payment will be sent within [number of weeks] weeks. Please email us if you have not received payment by [date].

We will be using information from the sessions to understand what people expect and want from government programs and services. We use what we learn to help others understand what is important to support. We may use notes, quotes, and recordings from this session to support research and service improvements. 

Recordings

We would like to record this session. We may record video, audio, or photo recordings from this session to help us review our time together and make sure we understood what you shared. We may also share recordings to help tell stories about what people want and need. In all cases we will take written notes. We might share quotes from people we interviewed. Nothing shared will include your face or name. When the design research project is completed, we will delete the full recordings.

Please initial below if you approve recording this session. At any time during the session, you can ask us to stop recording, or you can end the discussion. You would still receive compensation if you end the session early.

____ I approve recording this session.

Privacy

We will work to protect your privacy. We will remove information that could be used to identify you, such as your face or name. Your voice will not be removed if you approve the recording above.

Accessible accommodations

You can ask for accommodations. If you use assistive technology to access the internet, please bring those tools to the research session. If we can do anything to help you participate in the session or you need an interpreter, please let us know.

Withdrawal rights

You can withdraw your consent or change your mind about what you have shared with us. You can do this during the session, at the end of the session, or for a limited time after the session by contacting [researcher name] [researcher email] [researcher phone].

We appreciate you taking part in this session. Your perspective will help shape products and services for the public. Thank you very much for your time and feedback!

Your signature below means that you understand your rights and agree to the above.

__________________________

Printed name

__________________________

Signature

__________________________

Date