How do you get a users Consent when recording?

This is important, so it is great you are asking the question.

1. While what you are doing isn't "market research", their filed has been around a bit longer so they have some good guidelines for these kinds of issues. The MRA Code of Market Research Standards is a good place to start. This is what they say:

9. Ensure that respondents are informed at the outset if an interview or discussion is being audio or video recorded and obtain written consent if the recorded interview or discussion will be viewed by a third-party or reproduced for outside use. The requirement for consent must be requested of the respondent if it is their specific interview or discussion that will be subject to the audio and video recording. State laws that apply to monitoring or recording may also require consent from all parties subject to the audio or video recording.

If you are just recording them so that you can review them later, you might not need the form, but it is a good habit to get into.

2. If you want a consent form, there are several templates online. Usability.gov has a good one

BIG caveat here. If you are doing research outside the USA, especially in emerging markets, it is a totally different ballgame.

I've mostly seen this done with a simple post on the door and announcement, similar to the cookie cutter notice on Customer Support phone calls.

Depending on the type of engagement you're doing and what your organisation's policies are, you can look to use something similar to below, we get all customers to sign this prior to the session beginning. We have similar forms for acknowledgement that they have received their reimbursement for their time ($$$). Just helps to prevent any potential issues in the future.

Participation in this research is on a voluntary basis. You can withdraw from it at any time if you wish. You don’t need to give a reason and there will be no penalty. Nevertheless we do hope you will continue to be involved and find the experience worthwhile.

The session will last approximately one hour. We will be recording/taking notes during this session purely for analysing and collating purposes. This will be completely confidential.

The information captured will only be available to the research team. In any report or other feedback to the business, it will be ensured that all views and comments from the research sessions are anonymous, so it will not be possible for participants to be recognised or identified.

Thank you for agreeing to take part.

I have read the information provided and agree to be interviewed: __________ etc etc.

Say these: "I’d like to get your permission to record this session and that way I won’t have to depend on my memory a lot. Is that OK? I also ask that you keep this research confidential and I’d do the same. So I when I go back and preset the findings, I won’t refer to you by your name or any of that nature."

There's nothing wrong with a consent form, especially if you want to be thorough.

If you're doing this for any reason other than portfolio building, you'll also want to check with your university/employer/client to see if they require anything like that.