IRB Consent Script for Audio-Recorded Interviews (Copy/Paste Template)

An IRB consent script for audio-recorded interviews should clearly say you will record audio, create a transcript, protect confidentiality, limit who can access files, and explain participant rights like stopping the recording or withdrawing. Below are copy/paste templates you can adapt for in-person and remote interviews, plus a checklist to align with your IRB’s preferred wording and local laws.

Primary keyword: IRB consent script for audio-recorded interviews.

• Key takeaways:
• State the purpose, what you will record, and what you will do with recordings (including transcription).
• Explain confidentiality in plain language, including where files live, who can access them, and how long you will keep them.
• Give clear choices: permission to record, permission to quote, and options to pause or stop at any time.
• Use separate language for in-person vs remote recording (platform, cloud recordings, and privacy limits).
• Confirm your IRB’s exact required wording and follow local laws on recording and consent.

What an IRB consent script must cover (quick checklist)

Many IRBs allow a short “oral consent script” for minimal-risk interviews, but they still expect specific points. Use this checklist to see if your script is complete before you submit it.

• Who you are: your name, role, institution, and study title (or a brief description).
• Why you are inviting them: how you selected them and what participation involves.
• What will happen: interview topics at a high level, format, and estimated time.
• Audio recording: that you will record, when you will start, and how to ask you to pause/stop.
• Transcription: that audio will be transcribed, by whom (research team and/or a vendor), and whether automated tools may be used.
• Confidentiality: what you will do to protect identity, any limits, and how you will store data.
• Who will access recordings/transcripts: roles (PI, trained staff, transcriptionist/vendor) and training or agreements (as applicable).
• Data retention: how long you will keep audio and transcripts and what “destroy” means in your process.
• Risks/benefits: realistic and plain-language, even if minimal.
• Voluntary participation: they can skip questions, stop the recording, or end the interview.
• Withdrawal: what happens to already collected audio/transcripts if they withdraw (and any limits).
• Questions/contacts: study contact and IRB or ethics contact (use your IRB’s required contact text).

If your study involves sensitive topics, vulnerable populations, incentives, or regulated data, your IRB may require extra elements. Ask for their template and mirror it.

Copy/paste IRB consent script template (general, audio + transcription)

Use the template below as a starting point, then replace bracketed fields. Keep sentences short and avoid legal or technical wording unless your IRB requires it.

Oral consent script (base template)

Introduction
Hello, my name is [NAME]. I’m a [ROLE] at [INSTITUTION]. I’m inviting you to take part in a research interview about [TOPIC IN PLAIN LANGUAGE].

What you will do
If you agree, I will ask you questions about [GENERAL AREAS]. The interview will take about [TIME]. You may skip any question you do not want to answer.

Audio recording and transcription
With your permission, I would like to audio record this interview so I can accurately remember what you say. After the interview, the recording will be transcribed into a written document (a transcript). The transcript may be created by members of the research team and/or by a transcription service working for the research team. Only approved people will have access to the recording and transcript.

Confidentiality and who will access the files
We will keep the recording and transcript as confidential as possible. The recording and transcript will be accessed only by [LIST ROLES: e.g., the principal investigator, trained research staff, and approved transcriptionists]. We will store the files on [SECURE LOCATION, e.g., encrypted drive / secure institutional server] and limit access using [ACCESS CONTROLS, e.g., passwords / role-based access].

How we will use what you say
We may use your words in research reports or publications. We will [REMOVE YOUR NAME / USE A PSEUDONYM / DE-IDENTIFY] whenever possible. If you do not want to be quoted directly, you can tell me, and we will use summaries instead.

Risks and benefits
The main risk is that someone could learn what you said if confidentiality is broken. We take steps to reduce this risk, but we cannot promise absolute confidentiality. You may not benefit directly, but what you share may help [GENERAL BENEFIT].

Voluntary participation, stopping, and withdrawal
Taking part is voluntary. You can ask me to pause the recording, stop the recording, skip any question, or end the interview at any time. You can also withdraw from the study later by contacting us at [CONTACT INFO]. If you withdraw, we will [STATE YOUR IRB-APPROVED PLAN, e.g., stop collecting new information; and explain whether you will keep or delete data already collected, and any limits once de-identified or analyzed].

Questions
Do you have any questions for me now? If you have questions later, you can contact [NAME] at [PHONE/EMAIL]. For questions about your rights as a research participant, contact [IRB OFFICE CONTACT TEXT PER IRB].

Consent confirmation
Do you agree to participate? Do you give permission for me to audio record this interview?

• Participant says: ☐ Yes ☐ No
• Permission to record: ☐ Yes ☐ No
• Permission to use direct quotes (optional): ☐ Yes ☐ No

Reminder: Align this script with your local laws on recording consent and your IRB’s preferred wording, especially for confidentiality limits and withdrawal language.

In-person interview consent script (audio recording)

In-person interviews are usually simpler, but you still need to tell participants where the recorder is, what happens if others enter the room, and how you will handle identifying details.

Copy/paste script (in-person)

Before we start
Before we begin, I want to review the consent information. This interview is voluntary, and you can stop at any time.

Recording set-up
If you agree, I will place an audio recorder [ON THE TABLE / NEAR YOU]. I will start recording only after you say yes. If you want me to pause the recording, please tell me “pause,” and I will stop immediately.

Privacy in the room
We are meeting in [LOCATION]. I will do my best to choose a private space, but I cannot fully control whether someone might overhear us. If that happens, we can pause or move to a different location.

Transcription and access
After the interview, the audio will be transcribed into a written transcript. The recording and transcript will be accessed only by [ROLES] and stored on [SECURE LOCATION].

Consent
Do you agree to participate? Do I have your permission to audio record?

Remote/online interview consent script (Zoom/Teams/phone)

Remote interviews add extra privacy considerations, such as whether the platform stores recordings in the cloud, whether participants are in a private space, and whether anyone else can hear them off-camera.

Copy/paste script (remote)

Confirm your location and privacy
Before we start, are you in a place where you feel comfortable talking? If anyone else is in the room or might overhear you, you can tell me now or at any time, and we can pause or reschedule.

How recording will work
With your permission, I would like to audio record this interview. The recording will be made using [TOOL/DEVICE], and it will be saved to [LOCAL DEVICE / INSTITUTIONAL STORAGE / APPROVED CLOUD STORAGE]. I will start recording only after you say yes, and you can ask me to stop recording at any time.

Platform limits
We will use [ZOOM/TEAMS/PHONE]. While we will take steps to protect your information, remote communication may have privacy risks. If you prefer not to be recorded, we can [TAKE NOTES ONLY / END THE INTERVIEW / OFFER AN ALTERNATIVE IF IRB-APPROVED].

Transcription and access
After the interview, the recording will be transcribed. Only [ROLES] and approved transcriptionists (if used) will access the recording and transcript, and we will store them on [SECURE LOCATION] with restricted access.

Consent
Do you agree to participate? Do I have your permission to record this call?

Practical steps to tailor your script to your study

A good template saves time, but your IRB will expect your final script to match what you actually do. Use these steps to avoid mismatches between your protocol and your consent language.

1) Decide what you will record and what you will keep

• Audio only, or audio + video.
• Full recording kept, or deleted after transcription and verification.
• Whether you will remove names and places during transcription.

2) Write a clear access list (roles, not names)

• Principal investigator (PI).
• Co-investigators or trained research staff.
• Approved transcriptionists or a transcription vendor (if used).
• Auditors or monitors (only if your IRB requires you to disclose this).

3) Make withdrawal language specific

• Can participants ask you to delete the audio file.
• Can participants ask you to delete the transcript.
• Any limits once you de-identify, aggregate, or publish findings (use IRB-approved wording).

4) Add quote and attribution choices

• Permission to use direct quotes.
• Permission to attribute quotes by role (e.g., “a nurse,” “a manager”).
• Option to review quotes before publication (only promise this if you will do it).

5) Confirm recording consent rules where you are

Recording consent rules vary by location and setting, and your IRB may have specific requirements for how you document consent. For U.S. studies, you may need to consider whether a jurisdiction uses one-party or all-party consent for recording; review a reputable legal overview such as the Justia 50-state survey on recording conversations and follow your institution’s guidance.

Common pitfalls (and how to fix them)

Most consent script issues come from being vague. These fixes help your script match IRB expectations and protect participants.

• Pitfall: “We will keep your information confidential” with no details.
  Fix: Add where you store files, who can access them, and how you limit access.
• Pitfall: Mentioning transcription but not who transcribes.
  Fix: State whether the research team transcribes, a vendor transcribes, or you use a tool, and who can see the files.
• Pitfall: Promising anonymity when you can only offer confidentiality.
  Fix: Use “confidential” unless you truly collect no identifiers and cannot re-link data.
• Pitfall: Not addressing remote platform recording and cloud storage.
  Fix: Name the platform, where the recording saves, and offer a non-recorded option if approved.
• Pitfall: Withdrawal language that conflicts with your data plan.
  Fix: Use your IRB’s wording, and explain exactly what you can and cannot delete.
• Pitfall: Not telling participants they can pause the recording.
  Fix: Add a simple phrase like “Say ‘pause’ and I will stop recording.”

Common questions

Do I need written consent if I am only doing interviews?

Not always. Some IRBs allow oral consent scripts for minimal-risk interviews, but the IRB decides what documentation they require for your study.

Can I record without telling the participant if my state allows one-party consent?

Your IRB and your institution may still require you to disclose recording and get permission. Use your IRB’s guidance even if local law is less strict.

Should I promise to delete the audio after transcription?

Only promise deletion if it matches your protocol and you can follow through. If you plan to keep audio for verification or future analysis, say so and give a retention timeframe if required by your IRB.

How do I describe a transcription vendor in my consent script?

Use plain language: say a transcription service may help create the transcript, that only approved people can access the files, and that you will require confidentiality protections consistent with your study and institution.

What if a participant asks to go “off the record” during the interview?

Tell them they can ask you to pause or stop recording. If you continue talking while not recording, explain whether you will take notes and confirm what they want included.

Can participants review or edit their transcript?

They can ask, but you should only offer transcript review if your study plan supports it. If you do offer it, explain how they will review it and what changes you will accept (clarifications vs removing content).

What contact info should I include for questions about rights?

Use the exact IRB office contact language your institution provides. Many IRBs have required text for participant rights and complaint contacts.

When professional transcription helps (and what to document)

If you use a transcription service, your IRB may want to know how you protect confidentiality and limit access. Document (and reflect in your script) items like secure file transfer, restricted access, and whether you will de-identify audio or transcripts.

If you start with automated tools, consider a human review step for accuracy before analysis, especially when names, technical terms, or multiple speakers matter. You can also separate tasks by using automated transcription for speed and then a review workflow, such as transcription proofreading services, if that fits your study plan.

Helpful next step

If you need clean, readable transcripts for analysis, reporting, or archiving, GoTranscript offers options that can fit different research workflows, including automated transcription and a range of professional transcription services. Choose the approach that matches your IRB-approved confidentiality plan and the level of accuracy your project needs.