Obtaining informed consent can sound complicated, but it doesn’t have to be!
The practice involves sharing what and why you are asking people to do something. For example, “We’d like to ask you some questions about your satisfaction and what you learned during the training. This information helps us improve the training and measure changes in knowledge.”
This is also your opportunity to tell participants what is expected from them and how the information will be used – from completing a survey to participating in a focus group. Sharing this information helps a person decide whether they want to take part in the evaluation.
The informed consent process is very important. It’s a way of respecting and protecting the stories and experiences of those you interact with, your organization, and yourself. For some populations, like minors, there are additional precautions required by law.
Watch this short video and check out our worksheet to help you take the guesswork out of determining the informed consent process most appropriate for your evaluation activities!