---
title: "Resource: Design research participant agreement"
source: 18F Guides
source_url: https://github.com/18F/guides
licence: CC0-1.0
domain: engineering
subdomain: 18f-guides
date_added: 2026-04-25
---

{% comment %}
Note that the permalink here does not include /resources/ so there's no indication where this page actually sits.
{% endcomment %}

---
English version:
- [Google Docs version with participant compensation](https://docs.google.com/document/d/18GLTggHUDI5MVrmL5Lbot58EB6c6tAkMbg54GqFaETc/edit)
- [Google Docs version without participant compensation](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1EPElAVthOF2ojcoamRitDHSYK4lT9c5yFY8IBwbJNqE/edit)

[Spanish version]({{ '/ux-guide/participant-agreement-spanish/' | url }}) 

---

## Without participant compensation

This agreement relates to your participation in a U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) 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 `<area of inquiry>`. 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>`

**You’re not required to take part in this research project. You can end your participation or skip a question at any time.** While we’d 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. 

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

**We’ll 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’s important to support. You give us unlimited rights to use materials associated with your participation, except for some limitations on recordings as explained below.

**We’d 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’ll 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’ll delete the full recordings. 

Please check 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.

{.guide-checklist--single}
  - I approve recording this session

**We’ll work to protect your privacy.** We’ll remove information that could be used to identify you, such as your face or name. (Your voice won’t be removed if you approved recording above.) There’s more information in this [Privacy Act Statement for Design Research [GSA.gov]](https://www.gsa.gov/reference/gsa-privacy-program/privacy-act-statement-for-design-research).

**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.

**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 up to <number days> 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 American 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    |
| x               |
| Signature       |
| x               |
| Date            |
| x               |

---

## With participant compensation

This agreement relates to your participation in a U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) 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 `<area of inquiry>`. 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>`

**You’re not required to take part in this research project. You can end your participation or skip a question at any time.** While we’d 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. 

**We appreciate your participation. We’ll 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’ll 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’ll 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’s important to support. You give us unlimited rights to use materials associated with your participation, except for some limitations on recordings as explained below.

**We’d 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’ll 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’ll delete the full recordings. 

Please check 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’d still receive compensation if you end the session early. 

{.guide-checklist--single}
  - I approve recording this session

**We’ll work to protect your privacy.** We’ll remove information that could be used to identify you, such as your face or name. (Your voice won’t be removed if you approved recording above.) There’s more information in this [Privacy Act Statement for Design Research [GSA.gov]](https://www.gsa.gov/reference/gsa-privacy-program/privacy-act-statement-for-design-research).

**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 up to <number days> 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 American 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    |
| x               |
| Signature       |
| x               |
| Date            |
| x               |
