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Alma - Focus Groups for Museum Research - Consent Form

Research project: Museums Visitors Research

Participant Information Sheet and Privacy Notice

What is the aim of the research?

You are invited to take part in a research project about visits to museums and galleries in the UK since COVID-19.

Museums and galleries are important for communities, learning, tourism, and local economies. However, since the pandemic, fewer people have been visiting, which has created challenges for some museums and galleries.

Alma Economics, an independent research organisation, has been commissioned by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to carry out this research.

The aim of the research is to understand why visitor numbers have changed, whether these changes are temporary or long-term, and what can help encourage more people to visit in the future.

What am I being asked to do?

You are being asked to take part in a 90-minute group interview (focus group). We will ask you questions about whether you visit museums and galleries and your experiences of visiting them since COVID-19, any barriers or accessibility issues you may have faced, and what would make museums and galleries more appealing to you.

At the end of this form, we will ask if you agree for the session to be recorded. If the focus group takes place through a video call, you can keep your camera off during the recording. The recording will be used by the research team only to revise their notes after the interview. You do not have to agree to this. Please select what you feel most comfortable with.

Do I have to take part?

You do not have to take part if you do not want to. If you agree now, you can still change your mind later. If you change your mind after the focus group,

you can ask us to delete some or all the information you shared during the interview before the analysis begins in April 2026 (04/2026)

If you agree to take part, you can still choose not to answer any questions you do not want to.

How will information about me be used?

We will only use your personal information (like your name, email address) to invite you to the focus group.

The information you share with us during the focus group will be used to write a report. At the end of this form, we will ask you if you agree to being quoted in the report. Being quoted means using your exact words in some sentences. You do not have to agree to this. Please select what you feel most comfortable with. No personal information will appear in the report.

Will people know that I took part?

If you do take part, your participation will be confidential. This means that no one will be able to understand from reading the report that you have participated. Only the research team will have access to your information, the notes from the interview and the recording (if you agree to being recorded).

How will information about me be stored?

We follow the Data Protection Act 2018, which is a law that sets out how organisations (like us) must protect people’s personal information. Personal information is any information about you that identifies you as an individual and is not meant for everyone to know.

The lawful basis we rely on for processing your personal information is performing a public task. This is because this research is needed for the DCMS to continue performing its duties and powers as laid down by law.

You can read more about The Data Protection Act 2018 here: https://www.gov.uk/data-protection

We protect your information by:

- only allowing the research team to access it

- storing your personal information securely on an encrypted disk, so if the disk was lost or stolen, no one could access your information

- deleting all personal data within 90 days after the contract ends (by June 2026). Your anonymised data may be retained indefinitely and used for any legitimate purpose in future.

You have the right to request access to the information we have about you.

You can also request that your information be destroyed before the analysis begins in April 2026 (04/2026).

You can read more about all of your rights here: https://changepeople.org/images/002-what-you-need-to-know-about-gdpr-qr.pdf

What do I do if I have any questions or concerns?

Before the interview

Please ask any questions you might have before completing the form below, or before your interview.

After the interview

You can contact the Project Manager, Marcus Spray, at [email protected] if:

- you have any further questions or concerns after the interview

- you want to ask us to delete some or all the information you shared during the interview.

If you have a concern about how we handle your personal information, you can also reach out to the Information Commissioner’s Office. You can do that by:

- finding details about how to contact them at https://ico.org.uk/global/contact-us/contact-us-public/ - sending an email to [email protected].

Informed consent

Please tell us if you agree to participate by ticking the relevant boxes below.

Adding your name in this form confirms that you are willing to participate in this project. You are free to change your mind at any time without providing a reason.

Have you read the information provided above?

Yes

Did you have the chance to ask questions if you wanted to?

Yes

Do you understand that you do not have to take part in the focus group

Yes

Do you understand that you can stop the focus group at any time, and you do not need to tell us why

Yes

Do you understand that your personal information (like your name) will be kept private

Yes

Do you understand that you can ask us to destroy any information before the analysis begins in April 2026 (04/2026)

Yes

Are you happy to be quoted in our outputs without using your real name? (You can participate in the research even if you tick ‘No’.)

Yes

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Your email address

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March 20, 2026 10:09 am BST

Alma - Focus Groups for Museum Research - Consent Form Uploaded by Amy Bickers - [email protected] IP 212.42.190.49

March 20, 2026 10:21 am BST

Take Part in Research - [email protected] added by Amy Bickers - [email protected] as a CC'd Recipient Ip: 212.42.190.49