What is the research participant consent form template?
Good research consent does two jobs: it makes sure people genuinely understand what they're signing up for, and it gives the research team a reliable record of exactly what each participant agreed to. Paper forms with initial boxes do the first job reasonably well and the second one badly.
This template follows the familiar structure of a participant consent form. It starts with the study information and checks the person has read it and had their questions answered, then separates the core agreements from optional ones — recording, anonymous quotes, data sharing, future contact — so someone can take part while saying no to the extras.
Every signed consent is filed as a PDF in the vault folder you choose, ready for your study records.
- Best for
- University researchers, UX research teams, charities and clinics running studies
- Filled in by
- Each participant, with a parent or guardian for under-18s
- Time to complete
- About 5 minutes, plus reading time
- Includes
- Study information section, age check, three core consents, five optional choices, guardian logic, signature
Who uses a research participant consent form?
- Academic studies with interviews, focus groups or surveys
- UX and product research sessions with customers
- Charity or community research with service users
- Student dissertation projects that need documented consent
- Remote studies where participants can't sign a paper form
- Longitudinal studies that want permission for future contact
Questions on this research participant consent form
24 questions over 4 pages · includes signature, conditional questions, multiple pages, consent checkbox.
1 About the study
- Participant information sheet version and date
- Have you read the information above, or the participant information sheet?*
- Have you had the chance to ask questions, and are you happy with the answers?*
- What would you still like to ask? asked only when it applies
2 About you
- Your full name*
- Email*
- Phone
- Participant ID (if you were given one)
- Are you 18 or over?*
- Parent or guardian's name* asked only when it applies
- Parent or guardian's email* asked only when it applies
3 Your consent
- Taking part is voluntary*
- Use of my data*
- Agreement to take part*
- I agree to sessions being audio or video recorded*
- I agree to anonymous quotes from me being used in reports and publications*
- I agree to my de-identified data being stored and shared for future research*
- May we contact you about future studies?
- Would you like a summary of the results when the study is finished?
4 Sign
- Participant signature*
- Date*
- Parent or guardian* asked only when it applies
- Parent or guardian signature* asked only when it applies
- Name of the researcher taking consent
The research participant consent form, page by page
1 About the study
A heading and information block are ready for your own study title and plain-language details — purpose, what's involved, risks and benefits, how data is handled, withdrawal and contacts. An optional field records which version of the information sheet the participant saw. Two required yes/no questions confirm they've read it and had their questions answered. Answering no to the first shows a reminder to read the information first; answering no to the second opens a box for what they still want to ask.
2 About you
Name and email are required, with optional phone and participant ID. Are you 18 or over? is required; no reveals required fields for a parent or guardian's name and email.
3 Your consent
Three consent statements cover the essentials: taking part is voluntary with the right to withdraw, the person understands how their data is used, and they agree to take part. Three required yes/no questions follow for recording, anonymous quotes and de-identified data sharing — required to answer, but a no is always accepted. Future contact and a results summary are optional.
4 Sign
The participant signs and dates. For under-18s, a parent or guardian agreement and a required parent or guardian signature appear. The researcher's name can be added for your records.
Make the template yours
- Replace the study information block with your ethics-approved participant information
- Remove optional choices your study doesn't involve, such as recording
- Change the age question to match the age of consent your ethics committee requires
- Add screening questions if participants must meet criteria before consenting
- Send it as individual requests so you can track who has consented before each session
- Route responses to a folder per study and restrict who can open it
Tips for a better research participant consent form
- Write the study information in plain language — if participants need a dictionary, consent isn't informed
- Make it genuinely easy to say no to optional parts without dropping out
- Record the version of the information sheet each participant saw
- Store consent forms separately from research data so identities stay protected
- Keep a clear process for withdrawal and for what happens to data already collected
- Always follow your ethics committee's or IRB's requirements — this is a starting template, not approved wording
Every response becomes a PDF in your vault
Each consent is saved as a signed PDF in your chosen vault folder, and the participant receives a copy by email. The team can be notified of each new consent.
Before a session, check the Responses table to confirm consent is in place and see who agreed to recording or quotes. Export the list to CSV to keep your participant log up to date.
- Start from this template. It opens in the FileIt Forms designer — change any question, add pages, set the rules for when questions appear.
- Share it. Turn on a public link, or send it to people by email, each with their own link. They don’t need a FileIt account.
- Get the answers as PDFs. Each response is saved as a PDF in the vault folder you choose, with uploaded files attached — and listed in a Responses table you can export to CSV.
Research participant consent form: frequently asked questions
Is this research participant consent template free to use?
Yes. It's one of FileIt's ready-made templates, and every FileIt account, including the free plan, includes the Forms app and its full library of templates.
Do people filling in this form need a FileIt account?
No. Anyone with the link, or an emailed request, can complete and submit the form without creating a FileIt account. Only the form owner needs one.
Will this form be accepted by my ethics committee or IRB?
That's up to your committee. The template follows a common consent-form structure, but you'll need to use your approved wording and meet any specific requirements they set.
Can participants say no to recording and still take part?
Yes. Recording, quotes and data sharing are separate yes/no questions — answering is required, but a no is always accepted.
How do I handle participants under 18?
The form asks whether the participant is 18 or over. If not, it asks for a parent or guardian's name and email, their agreement and their signature. Change the age to whatever your study requires.
Can participants keep a copy?
Yes. The form is set to email each participant a copy of what they signed.
Is this legal or ethical advice?
No. It's a starting template. Your institution, ethics committee and applicable law decide what consent must include.