15 Aug 2025
|13 min
User research agreement
Learn what a user research agreement is, why it’s essential for ethical UX research, and how to create one that protects both participants and researchers.
15 Aug 2025
|13 min
User research agreements might not be the most exciting part of your research process, but they're essential when you're testing sensitive or confidential features.
Whether you're exploring an unreleased product, gathering feedback on early concepts, or working with proprietary data, these agreements – particularly non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) – create the foundation for safe, ethical research that protects everyone involved.
Think of research agreements as setting clear expectations before you start – like agreeing on the rules before playing a game. When participants understand what's expected and feel confident their information is protected, they're more likely to share honest, valuable feedback. That's exactly what you need to create experiences that truly connect with your audience.
User research agreements are documents that establish clear expectations between you and your participants before a study begins. They protect sensitive information while building the trust that makes great research possible.
There are several types of research agreements:
Non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) are the most common type. They protect confidential information by preventing participants from sharing details about products, features, or business information they encounter during your research.
Participation agreements or consent forms focus on participant rights. They explain your research process, how you'll use data, and what participants can expect from the experience.
Combined agreements merge both confidentiality and consent elements into a single document, streamlining the process while addressing both needs.
The type of agreement you need depends on your research situation:
Agreement type | What it protects | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
NDAs | Company secrets and intellectual property | Testing unreleased products, early concepts, or proprietary information |
Consent forms | Participant rights and data privacy | All ethical research requiring data collection |
Combined agreements | Both confidentiality and participant rights | Studies involving both sensitive information and data collection |
Agreements are often used in scenarios like:
Testing unreleased products or prototypes.
Exploring early-stage concepts or features.
Working in regulated industries (healthcare, finance, etc.).
Conducting research with proprietary data or business strategies.
Any study where participants might encounter sensitive information.
Stop managing agreements manually. See how Lyssna automates research NDAs for enterprise teams. Request a demo today.
Research agreements serve different but equally important purposes for everyone involved in your study.
Protect sensitive intellectual property. When participants see unreleased features, early concepts, or proprietary information, agreements prevent unauthorized sharing that could compromise your competitive advantage.
Maintain your competitive edge. Preventing leaks of product ideas, business strategies, or upcoming launches helps preserve your market position and protects your investment in innovation.
Meet legal and compliance requirements. Regulated industries often require documented agreements, and privacy laws like GDPR mandate specific consent processes for how you collect and use data.
Create clarity about participant responsibilities. Clear agreements reduce confusion about what participants can and can’t do with information they encounter during your research.
Transparency about expectations and boundaries. Participants understand exactly what's expected of them and what information they need to keep confidential.
Assurance about proper data handling. Clear explanations of how you'll collect, store, and use their personal information build trust and comfort with your research process.
Understanding of their involvement scope. Participants know what they're agreeing to, how long it will take, and what rights they maintain throughout the process.
Whether you're creating an NDA, consent form, or combined agreement, certain elements should always be included.
Clearly define what information is considered confidential and what participants must keep private. This includes:
Product features or concepts they'll see.
Business strategies or data you'll discuss.
Any proprietary information encountered during the session.
Explain exactly what information you'll collect and how you'll handle it:
What data you're collecting (recordings, notes, demographic information).
How you'll store and secure it.
Who will have access to it.
How long you'll keep it.
Specify how long confidentiality requirements last:
Indefinite confidentiality for trade secrets.
Time-limited confidentiality until product launch.
Specific end dates for temporary restrictions.
Be clear about what participants can and can’t do:
Taking screenshots or photos.
Discussing the session with others.
Sharing information on social media.
Using knowledge gained for personal or professional purposes.
If you're offering payment or incentives, include:
Exact compensation amount and format.
When and how you'll deliver payment.
Any conditions that might affect payment.
Consequences of agreement violations on compensation.
Document consent through:
Physical or digital signatures.
Checkbox acceptance for digital agreements.
Timestamp recording for compliance purposes.
Understanding the legal landscape helps you work out when agreements are needed and what requirements you need to meet.
Certain situations mandate formal agreements:
Regulatory compliance: Industries like healthcare (HIPAA), finance, or government work often require documented consent and confidentiality agreements.
GDPR and privacy laws: Data protection regulations require explicit consent for data collection and processing, especially when dealing with personal information.
Corporate policies: Many organizations require NDAs for any external interaction involving proprietary information.
Intellectual property protection: When participants will encounter patentable ideas, trade secrets, or copyrighted material.
Running sensitive research without proper agreements creates several risks:
Legal vulnerability: No documentation of participant consent or confidentiality obligations.
Intellectual property exposure: Unprotected sharing of sensitive information.
Compliance violations: Potential breaches of privacy regulations or industry standards.
Reputation damage: Information leaks that harm your competitive position or customer trust.
Well-crafted agreements serve as legal evidence if disputes arise, providing:
Documentation of informed consent.
Clear record of confidentiality obligations.
Evidence of voluntary participation.
Foundation for legal action if agreements are violated.
Even when you know you need agreements, getting them signed and managing them throughout your research process can sometimes create unexpected friction.
Traditional approaches to research agreements create several pain points:
Time-consuming processes: Printing, emailing, collecting, and filing signed documents.
Security risks: Physical documents can be lost or accessed inappropriately.
Compliance tracking: Difficulty monitoring who has signed what agreements.
Version control: Making sure participants receive the most current agreement version.
It can be challenging to handle agreements seamlessly with your research tools:
Disconnected workflows: Managing agreements separately from research platforms.
Participant friction: Multiple steps and tools create confusing experiences.
Data synchronization: Difficulty linking agreement status with participant data.
Monitoring agreement compliance becomes complex with:
Multiple participant sources: Different requirements for panel vs self-recruited participants.
Various study types: Different agreement needs for moderated vs unmoderated research.
International considerations: Varying legal requirements across jurisdictions.
We've built agreements directly into Lyssna to address these challenges, integrating agreement management seamlessly into your research workflow.
Upload PDF agreements directly into any study (tests or interviews).
Require acceptance before participants can begin research activities.
Works seamlessly for both moderated and unmoderated studies, with Lyssna panel or self-recruited participants.
Automatic collection of consent with timestamps for compliance records.
Check out our help center for more detailed steps.
Integrated workflow: No need for separate tools or manual processes.
Secure documentation: Encrypted storage with automatic compliance tracking.
Smooth participant experience: Seamless agreement process that doesn't disrupt research flow.
Enterprise compliance: Meets advanced legal and governance requirements.
This feature is particularly valuable when you're:
Testing confidential products or unreleased features.
Working with enterprise compliance requirements.
Conducting research requiring documented participant consent.
Managing multiple studies with consistent agreement requirements.
Use simple, conversational language (aim for eighth-grade reading level).
Avoid legal jargon that participants might not understand.
Break up long paragraphs with clear headings and bullet points.
Define technical terms when they're necessary.
Before presenting the full agreement, offer a brief summary that explains:
What the research involves.
Why the agreement is necessary.
Key points participants should understand.
How long the agreement will take to review.
Before launching your research:
Have colleagues review agreements for clarity.
Test the sign-up process from the participant perspective.
Make sure agreements display properly on different devices.
Verify that the process doesn't create unnecessary friction.
Use encrypted storage systems for signed agreements.
Track who has accepted which agreement versions.
Maintain audit trails for compliance purposes.
Set retention policies that align with legal requirements.
Start by explaining why you're doing the research and what participants will do.
Your purpose statement should include:
A simple explanation of your research goals.
What activities the participant will complete.
How long the session will take.
Keep it straightforward and avoid technical jargon. For example:
"We're studying how people use food delivery apps to help us improve our ordering process. You'll be asked to complete some tasks using our app while sharing your thoughts aloud. The session will take about 30 minutes."
Be specific about what information you'll collect and how you'll use it:
What data you're collecting (recordings, notes, demographic information).
How you'll store it.
Who will have access to it.
How long you'll keep it.
For example: "We'll record your screen and voice during this session. The recordings will be stored securely on our password-protected servers and only viewed by our research team. We'll delete all recordings after six months."
Make it clear that participation is voluntary and can be ended at any time:
A statement that participation is completely voluntary.
Information about how to withdraw during or after the session.
What happens to their data if they withdraw.
For example: "Your participation is voluntary. You can stop at any time by telling the researcher. If you decide to withdraw, we'll delete any data we've collected from you unless you specifically allow us to keep it."
Address how you'll protect participant identity and information:
How you'll keep their personal information private.
Whether responses will be anonymous or confidential.
Who will have access to identifiable information.
For example: "We'll remove your name and any identifying details from our research findings. Your responses will be combined with others, and no comments will be attributed to you personally."
If you're offering payment or incentives, explain the details:
What compensation participants will receive.
When and how they'll receive it.
Any conditions that might affect payment.
For example: "As thanks for your participation, you'll receive a $50 Amazon gift card. We'll email this to you within 3 business days after completing the full session."
To help you get started, we've created a template that incorporates all the elements discussed in this guide. This template includes the essential sections for your research agreement, with placeholder text you can customize for your specific studies.
What's included in the template:
Clear introduction and study overview.
Detailed data collection and usage explanation.
Participant rights and withdrawal procedures.
Privacy and confidentiality protections.
Compensation details (if applicable).
International participant considerations.
Proper consent documentation.
Access the user research agreement template
This template works for any type of user research, from usability testing to interviews. If you're using Lyssna's built-in agreements feature, you can make a PDF and upload your customized version directly to your studies for seamless participant onboarding.
Remember to have your legal team review any agreement before using it, especially if you're working with sensitive data or operating across multiple jurisdictions.
Well-crafted user research agreements do more than protect sensitive information – they demonstrate respect for participants and commitment to ethical research practices. When participants understand what they're agreeing to and feel confident their information is protected, they're more likely to provide honest, valuable feedback.
The investment in creating clear, comprehensive agreements pays dividends in research quality, legal protection, and participant relationships. By making agreements a standard part of your research process, you create the foundation for insights that can truly transform your user experience.
Ready to streamline your research agreements? Try Lyssna's built-in agreements feature for a seamless, integrated solution that protects your research while respecting your participants.
Built-in agreements. Automated compliance. Zero friction. Discover how Lyssna protects your sensitive research.
Diane Leyman
Senior Content Marketing Manager
Diane Leyman is the Senior Content Marketing Manager at Lyssna. She brings extensive experience in content strategy and management within the SaaS industry, along with editorial and content roles in publishing and the not-for-profit sector
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