INFORMED CONSENT FORM
Study Title: Podcasting for Online Learners with Vision Loss: A Descriptive Study
Researcher: Kimarie W. Whetstone
Email Address and Telephone Number: whetstonekjw@yahoo.com 704-608-9673
Research Supervisor: Dr. Ed Mayberry
Email Address: ed.mayberry@capella.edu
You are invited to be part of a research study. The researcher is a doctoral learner at Capella University in the School of Education. The information in this form is provided to help you decide if you want to participate. The form describes what you will have to do during the study and the risks and benefits of the study.
If you have any questions about or do not understand something in this form, you should ask the researcher. Do not participate in the study unless the researcher has answered your questions and you decide that you want to be part of this study.
WHAT IS THIS STUDY ABOUT?
Using a case study method, the researcher wants to examine and describe the current uses of audio podcasts, the accessibility of audio podcasts, and the benefits of using audio podcasts as a form of access to visual course content in U.S. online college courses as perceived by learners with vision loss.
HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL BE IN THIS STUDY?
About 13 participants will be in this study.
WHY AM I BEING ASKED TO BE IN THE STUDY?
You are invited to be in the study because you are:
- An individual with vision loss.
- Have taken an online college course in the U.S.
- Podcasts were provided in the course.
All participants will be between 18 and 59.
If you do not meet the description above, you are not able to be in the study.
WHO IS PAYING FOR THIS STUDY?
The researcher is not receiving funds to conduct this study. The researcher will not be paid for conducting the study.
WILL IT COST ANYTHING TO BE IN THIS STUDY?
You do not have to pay to be in the study.
HOW LONG WILL I BE IN THE STUDY?
If you decide to be in this study, your participation will last about 15 minutes.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN DURING THIS STUDY?
The case study has an in-depth, personal focus and is subjective. If you decide to be in this study and if you click Continue below, you will do the following things on an accessible, Section 508 compliant online survey on SurveyGizmo.com:
- answer background questions about the online courses you have taken through U.S. college institutions that provided podcasts.
- answer questions about the current uses and accessibility of audio podcasts in U.S. online college courses.
- give personal information about yourself, such as your gender, age, and ethnicity.
While you are in the study, you must:
- Follow the instructions you are given.
- Tell the researcher if you want to stop being in the study at any time.
The procedure for analysis will include providing descriptions from the survey data on the current uses and accessibility of audio podcasts in U.S. online college courses and identifying cross-case themes and patterns.
WILL BEING IN THIS STUDY HELP ME?
Being in this study will not help you. Information from this study might help researchers help others in the future.
ARE THERE RISKS TO ME IF I AM IN THIS STUDY?
No study is completely risk-free. However, we don’t anticipate that you will be harmed or distressed during this study. You may stop being in the study at any time if you become uncomfortable. You should be aware, however, that there is a small possibility that responses could be viewed by unauthorized parties (e.g. computer hackers because your responses are being entered and stored on a web server).
WILL I GET PAID?
You will not receive anything for being in the study.
DO I HAVE TO BE IN THIS STUDY?
Your participation in this study is voluntary. You can decide not to be in the study and you can change your mind about being in the study at any time. There will be no penalty to you. If you want to stop being in the study, tell the researcher.
WHO WILL USE AND SHARE INFORMATION ABOUT MY BEING IN THIS STUDY?
The results of the research study will be published, but survey is anonymous. Your name and identity are not collected. The researcher will maintain confidentiality of the research data by making the survey anonymous. Identifiable personal information will not be collected. The researcher will assign a unique code number to each survey. When analyzing the data and discussing the findings, the researcher will use the code numbers. This will ensure that the data cannot be linked to specific participants. Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) 256 bit encryption will be used on secure survey links to transmit data back to SurveyGizmo servers. IP address tracking will be disabled in SurveyGizmo to ensure anonymity. When the informed consent and completed survey data are received by the researcher, they will be downloaded from SurveyGizmo.com, the online survey database. The survey data will be removed from SurveyGizmo.com once all of the data has been collected and downloaded. The researcher will protect the privacy of the participants by securing the data in a locked file cabinet, only accessible by the researcher. Only one log in exists to access the survey data which belongs to the researcher exclusively. The researcher will ensure that no unauthorized persons have access to the data.
WHO CAN I TALK TO ABOUT THIS STUDY?
You can ask questions about the study at any time. You can call the researcher at any time if you have any concerns or complaints. You should call the researcher at the phone number listed on page 1 of this form if you have questions about the study procedures, study costs (if any), study payment (if any), or if you get hurt or sick during the study.
The Capella Research Integrity Office (RIO) has been established to protect the rights and welfare of human research participants. Please contact us at 1-888-227-3552, extension 4716, for any of the following reasons:
- You have questions about your rights as a research participant.
- You wish to discuss problems or concerns.
- You have suggestions to improve the participant experience.
- You do not feel comfortable talking with the researcher.
You may contact the RIO without giving us your name. We may need to reveal information you provide in order to follow up if you report a problem or concern.
This study has been approved by Capella University's IRB 203994-4, effective from June 21, 2012 through December 19, 2012.
DO YOU WANT TO BE IN THIS STUDY?
By clicking Continue below you agree to the following statement:
I have read this form, and I have been able to ask questions about this study. The researcher has answered all my questions. I voluntarily agree to be in this study. I agree to allow the use and sharing of my study-related records as described above.
I have not given up any of my legal rights as a research participant. I will print a copy of this consent information for my records.