Plan consent and data use
See this course’s project requirements
A service-research brief with neutral interview questions, a consent plan, coded fictional transcripts, and findings linked to evidence.
Keep your working files in your own notebook or software. Save a private description, checklist, and work link in My Proof.
What to include
- A one-page research brief with question, scope and known evidence limits.
- A five-prompt interview guide with a neutral follow-up probe.
- A practice consent script and data-lifecycle table.
- A three-row coded evidence table with interpretation and uncertainty columns.
- A findings map with supporting IDs, contrary evidence, and open questions.
- A complete research packet and concise readout with findings, limits, owner and next evidence needs.
Review and revise
Use these criteria to check your work and choose what to improve.
- Every required section is present and traceable to the supplied case facts.
- Decisions separate known facts, assumptions, and unresolved questions.
- Records, calculations, and instructions agree with each other and the stated rules.
- The final revision addresses a changed case and explains what someone should do next.
Want more background?
The idea in everyday life
Fictional practice protocol only: study owner Jo; purpose improve evening-reservation information; a 15-minute conversation; participation optional and unrelated to service access; questions may be skipped and the conversation stopped. Notes use IDs P1/P2/P3, not contact details. No audio or video recording. Only the two-person research team sees raw notes. Raw notes are deleted after 30 days; the internal findings brief uses de-identified excerpts. The first findings draft is combined on day 14; this does not remove the links to participant IDs. The internal findings brief is deleted on day 90. While attributable research data are retained, a participant may give Jo their study ID and ask the team to stop using and remove their notes and linked excerpts. Jo checks both the retained notes and the findings brief and records the removal. No real participant is contacted in this course.
People need to understand the activity and their choices before agreeing.
Plan consent and data use — guided practice
Explain participation and data handling before collecting any real information.
Use a text editor, a free document editor, or paper. Start from the following fictional records; they reset this lesson even if your earlier answer differed. Fictional practice protocol only: study owner Jo; purpose improve evening-reservation information; a 15-minute conversation; participation optional and unrelated to service access; questions may be skipped and the conversation stopped. Notes use IDs P1/P2/P3, not contact details. No audio or video recording. Only the two-person research team sees raw notes. Raw notes are deleted after 30 days; the internal findings brief uses de-identified excerpts. The first findings draft is combined on day 14; this does not remove the links to participant IDs. The internal findings brief is deleted on day 90. While attributable research data are retained, a participant may give Jo their study ID and ask the team to stop using and remove their notes and linked excerpts. Jo checks both the retained notes and the findings brief and records the removal. No real participant is contacted in this course.
1. Explain the purpose and activity
Draft plain language covering why, how long and what happens.
You should see: Improve timing information; 15 minutes; notes only.
A person needs concrete information to make a choice.
2. State voluntary choices
Include skipping, stopping and unchanged service access.
You should see: Participation does not control eligibility for the service.
Choice should be clear rather than implied.
3. Explain the data lifecycle
State identifiers, access, deletion and the process for removing retained attributable data on request.
You should see: ID notes; team-only raw access; first draft on day 14; raw-note deletion on day 30; brief deletion on day 90; removal of retained attributable notes and linked excerpts on request.
Privacy promises need to match the actual plan.
4. Check agreement before starting
Add a clear agreement step and a no-agreement path.
You should see: Ask whether they agree; if not, do not begin or collect notes.
Participation should not be presumed from attendance.
What to finish
A practice consent script and data-lifecycle table.
Watch for this
Promising anonymity while retaining identifying details, or promising removal after data can no longer be separated.
How can I tell I understand it?
Check your result against the worked example, then explain the changed case without using an unstated assumption.
Quick knowledge check
Answer all 3 questions. Get at least 2 right and the lesson completes automatically.
You’ll get an explanation for each answer. Signed in? Your results save to your account.
Pass the check. We’ll save the progress.
Answer all 3 questions above and get at least 2 right. You can review the explanations and try again.
Go to the knowledge checkOptional course overview video · same video as Lesson 1
The 3 Types of User Interviews: Structured, Semi-Structured, and Unstructured
From NNgroup. Watch here or open it on YouTube .
Optional course overview. Follow the written steps below at your own pace.Tools, templates, and lesson sources
Tools and templates
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Sources and further reading
Explore the references behind this lesson.
Source & access notes · checked 2026-09-12
Inspected planning, neutral questions, listening and interview structure.
Access: Public official service manual; no account.
Reuse: Reference only. Site indicates Open Government Licence v3.0 except where stated; all course prompts and transcripts are original.
Source & access notes · checked 2026-09-12
Inspected observations, grouping evidence and developing findings without jumping directly to solutions.
Access: Public official service manual; no account.
Reuse: Reference only; no templates or example participant material copied.
Source & access notes · checked 2026-09-12
Inspected informed voluntary consent and explaining data use; UK organizational context, not a universal legal checklist.
Access: Public official service manual; no account.
Reuse: Reference only; the practice protocol is an original fictional exercise.
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