Building Trust by Asking Permission: Interview Release & Consent Forms
Computer programmer and US Navy Rear Admiral Grace Hopper was fond of saying “It’s easier to ask for forgiveness than it is to ask for permission.” No doubt this was tactically brilliant wisdom where her work was concerned, but skipping release and consent before an interview is not only a violation of professional and ethical standards, it’s also a wasted opportunity.
It’s easy to think of the opening “Do you consent to be interviewed?” exchange as a formality or a procedural obstacle on the road to the “real” data collection work. But this check-the-box exercise represents an important chance to build more of the type of trust that produces better data.
“Trust me.” he said archly.
Whether you’re collecting personal medical information in a public health context or simply administering a three-question customer survey outside of a grocery store, the people you are interviewing are entrusting you with their personal knowledge. How you ask for it speaks volumes about how you will value it should they choose to share.
Sure, an IRB panel or a legal department will sometimes provide specific intro language or a vetted template beforehand, but more often than not our release and consent intros are cannibalized from older interview protocols. There’s nothing wrong with this, but it’s good to remember that there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all solution. So, let's revisit our release and consent language in the context of earning trust.
“A strange game. The only winning move is not to play.”
If you’re requesting consent at the beginning of an interview, there’s a good chance that the person you’re asking has already expressed some level of willingness to participate. Even so, the content and delivery of a formal consent request will still reflect on how you are received as a professional.
Obviously, the most basic consent agreement is to simply ask the question, “Can I interview you?” But what if you’re halfway through the interview and the interviewee interrupts you to say:
“This is not what I thought I was agreeing to! This interview is over!”
Not only does that derail the interview, whatever they said up to that point also needs to be pitched. Even if you thought things were clear beforehand, every interviewee has the right to shut down an interview if they feel like it’s going somewhere they don’t want to go.
So how do you strike a balance between providing a comprehensive overview of the purpose of your interview, and having your audience’s eyes glaze over midway into a 5-minute preamble?
The five “W”s of journalism provide a useful rule of thumb:
If you lay out these five things at the beginning of the interview you will be on firm footing. But beyond that, what are some other things you can do in a consent request that will earn people’s trust?
Put your red lines at the top: “WE WILL NOT”
Sell or expose your data
Reveal your identity
Quote you without your permission
Clarify what the study will not be used for. (Note, this is particularly important if an interviewee is under the impression that their participation may lead to funding or some other form of compensation.
Provide them with your contact info (they probably won’t contact you, but they’ll feel better if they know they can).
Keep text to a minimum, as too much text can be interpreted as untrustworthy legalese or “fine print.”
Initial the consent form to show that you’re signing off on the agreement as well.
Offer to clear any direct quotes before using them. This gives the interviewee another measure of control over the data they’re going to share, and also reassures them that their words won’t be misconstrued.
Make clear your interviewee understands they are not obligated to answer any question they feel uncomfortable answering, and that they may discontinue the interview at any time.
Finally, if you are recording an interview, make it very clear why you are recording it and what you will do with the recording once you’re done.
This blog should not be construed as legal guidance. If you intend to interview minors, or people with legal, religious, ethnic, or political vulnerabilities, or if your interview relates to health or medical data you should review your organization’s policy guidance beforehand to ensure you have fully met all of your legal and ethical compliance requirements. If none exists, or if it seems inadequate for your circumstances you should definitely check with a lawyer.
Consent/release form samples and templates:
The following sites provide simple and straightforward templates.
Additional reading and resources:
Stanford University has a copyright and fair use library with a few useful information pages on personal release agreements and interview releases.
Other useful links
