VIRGINIA POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE AND STATE UNIVERSITY
Consent Form for Participation
in Research Projects Involving Human Subjects
Title of Project: Emotional Experience in Technology-Supported Genealogy Research
Investigator(s):
Principal Investigator:
Dr. Kurt Luther (Associate Professor of Computer Science, Virginia Tech)
Email: kluther@vt.edu Phone: 571-858-3335
Other Investigators:
Fei Shan (Graduate Student, Virginia Tech)
Email: fshan@vt.edu
I. Purpose of this Research Project
You are being asked to participate in our research study on people’s emotional experience in genealogy research. We plan to conduct study with genealogy practitioners with different backgrounds, collect information about their research practice and emotional experience, and explore how technology may help support emotion aspects of genealogy research. The results of this study may be published in academic conferences or journals or included in student theses and dissertations. We are recruiting about 20 adult genealogy hobbyists for this study.
II. Procedures
If you agree to participate, we will ask you to do the following activities:
- Complete an online pre-survey with some basic information about your demographics (age, gender, etc.) and genealogy research experience.
- Participate in a study to demonstrate your genealogy research process, reflect on your emotional experiences, and describe how they may affect your research.
- The study would be conducted remotely with Zoom software. You will not have to travel anywhere or meet the interviewer in person.
- The study will be audio- and video-recorded. Information such as your computer screen and mouse movement will be recorded.
- The study is expected to take about 60 minutes, but might be extended up to 90 minutes.
III. Risks
The risks of the study are expected to be minimal, similar to what you would encounter during your regular genealogy/family history research.
IV. Benefits
You will not receive any direct benefit by participating in this study. However, the study will help researchers develop software and techniques for genealogy research. This could also benefit society by improving understanding of genealogy research and human-computer interaction.
No promise or guarantee of benefits has been made to encourage you to participate.
V. Extent of Anonymity and Confidentiality
We may collect your name and contact information, but these details will be stored separately from the rest of your study data, and only the Principal Investigator and Co-Principal Investigator will have the ability to link them. We will use a numeric code instead of your name to refer to your study data. Information that might reveal your personal identity will be removed in any publications or presentations. At the conclusion of the study, we will destroy the link to your personal information.
The Virginia Tech (VT) Institutional Review Board (IRB) may view the study’s data for auditing purposes. The IRB is responsible for the oversight of the protection of human subjects involved in research.
VI. Compensation
You will receive a $20 gift card as compensation for completing the study. No partial compensation will be awarded.
VII. Freedom to Withdraw
It is important for you to know that you are free to withdraw from this study at any time without penalty. You are free not to answer any questions that you choose or respond to what is being asked of you without penalty. Please also note that there may be circumstances under which the investigator may determine that a participant should not continue as a research subject.
Should you withdraw or otherwise discontinue participation, you will be compensated for the portion of the project completed in accordance with the Compensation section of this document.
VIII. Questions or Concerns
Should you have any questions about this study, you may contact one of the research investigators whose contact information is included at the beginning of this document.
Should you have any questions or concerns about the study’s conduct or your rights as a research participant, or need to report a research-related injury or event, you may contact the Virginia Tech Institutional Review Board at irb@vt.edu or (540) 231-3732.
IX. Subject’s Consent
I have read the Consent Form and conditions of this project. I have had all my questions answered. I hereby acknowledge the above and give my voluntary consent: [Please sign your name on this Google Form].