Procedure for Acquiring Consent for Usability Tests

Usability tests are subject to the University's "human subjects" regulations. These apply if you want to publish the data, post it on the web, or otherwise share it outside the UC Berkeley Library.

It's easy to meet this requirement. The library has a blanket exemption that allows us to conduct usability tests, focus groups, or surveys to evaluate UC Berkeley Library computer systems (broadly worded to include the catalog, website, database access systems etc.), without applying for "human subjects" clearance each time we do it.

When doing these kinds of tests, all we need to do is give consent forms to participants (no signatures required unless we're audio/videotaping the test). There is no expiration date on this arrangement.

• Sample consent form for usability tests (doc)
• Sample release form for making an audio or video recording (doc)
• Sample script that includes some informed-consent language (doc)
• Protocol document that defines what types of studies qualify for the blanket exemption (doc)