---
title: Consent and taking part
description: Choose what people are told or asked, handle minors and paper forms, and withdraw someone who asks.
updated: 2026-10-29
---

> All VIABLE docs, for people and their agents: https://developers.viablelab.org/llms.txt

# Consent and taking part

A study's **Consent** tab decides what people are told or asked before they start, and so whose data the study uses. People who decline or opt out still use the course or chat.

| Option | What people see | In the data |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Include everyone, without asking** | Nothing | Everyone |
| **Show a research notice** | A notice; on a chat page, a line above the chat opens it | Everyone |
| **A notice they can opt out of** | The notice, with a way to keep their work out (**Don't use my chats** on a chat page) | All but those who opted out |
| **Ask for consent on a form** | A form to decide on first | Only those who agree |

Observational studies start with everyone included, comparative ones with consent. Any study can change this before it opens.

In a comparative study, **What consent covers** is **Taking part** (only those who agree get a condition) or **The use of their data** (everyone gets one; the form decides only the data). Assigning by section needs the use of data, since a class shares its condition.

## The form

Choose **Write it here** (up to 20,000 characters, or **Start from a template**) or **Use your approved PDF** (up to 10 MB).

After the study opens, a changed form is an amendment and a new version, listed under **Versions of the form**. With consent, people who decided on an earlier version are asked again on their next visit. With a notice, new arrivals read the new one. Pause the study while an amendment is reviewed.

Agreeing covers any recordings the study keeps, so say so in the form.

## Minors and paper forms

- **An assent form for minors:** the form asks people their age, and minors agree on the assent form too. A children's course takes everyone as under 18.
- **Parental permission for minors:** a minor counts in the data once permission is recorded. Upload **The form parents sign** to print.
- **Paper forms:** as signed forms come back, select **Record** in the **Parental permission** column on **Participants**. **Show them** lists minors who are waiting.

## Withdrawal

Learners reread the study under **About the study**. With consent, **Leave the study** is final and keeps their earlier work out too. With an opt-out, they can opt out and back in.

When someone asks you, select **Withdraw** beside them on **Participants**. Their records, earlier ones too, leave the study's data and coding samples. It is final.

## What teachers see

A course's **Research** tab shows its teachers how many learners take part, by condition. Owners and editors see names beside decisions; viewers see codes.

> [!WARNING]
> No setting hides decisions from owners and editors. If an instructor must not know who agreed, don't make them one while it matters.

How people take part, what consent covers and parental permission are fixed once the study opens.

::: cards
- [Conditions and assignment](/docs/research/conditions): set what differs and who gets which.
- [The research export](/docs/research/export): see how consent marks every record.
:::