You are being asked to participate in a research study that will use the results of the survey you are being asked to complete for research and publication purposes. Before agreeing to participate in this research study, it is important that you read and understand the following explanation of the purpose, benefits and risks of the study, and how it will be conducted.
Title of Study: Redesigning Courses to Increase Student Learning
Principal Investigator: Dr. Ronald Carriveau, University of North Texas (UNT), Center for Learning Enhancement, Assessment, and Redesign.
Co-Investigators: Mary Teel; Mark Grether; Kris Chesky; Kimi King; Eddie Meaders; Robert Insley; Noreen Goggin; David Tam; Lee Hughes; Nicole Dash; Karen Anderson; Jennifer Way; Tracey Gau; Sushama Dandekar; Lou E. Pelton; Warren Scott; Brett Patchen; Lindsey Taflinger; Bradley Shope; Elizabeth Turner; Bradley Shope; Brenda McCoy; Allen Clark; Richard Plott; Philip Turner.
Purpose of the Study: You are being asked to participate in a research study that involves completing online surveys related to this course so that researchers can assess whether the redesigned format of this course improves student learning and attitudes toward the subject matter.
Study Procedures: You will be asked to complete online surveys outside of class this week and again at the end of the semester. In total, these surveys are expected to take about 60 minutes of your time. In addition, by consenting to and participating in this study you are giving your permission for Dr. Ronald Carriveau, through the Registrar, to use your EUID and/or name to connect the following demographic information: age, gender, grade level, and current GPA--to your survey responses. Your name and ID number will be deleted from the research data files before Dr. Carriveau makes them available to Co-Investigators (such as your Instructor).
Foreseeable Risks: There are no foreseeable risks to your participation in this study. Your decision to decline or withdraw from participation in this study will have no effect on your reputation or standing in this course. If bonus points are awarded for participation and you decline participation, then an alternative way for you to get equivalent point will be offered.
Benefits to the Subjects or Others: While we do not expect this research to benefit you directly, this study has been designed to benefit future students who take this course in that we are conducting this study specifically to learn how to improve this course and other courses that have a similar format.
Compensation for Participants: One way you will be compensated for your participation in this study is that you may printout personalized information about your learning preference as well as an overall cognitive complexity score when you take the Learning Environment Preference survey. In addition, your instructor may elect to offer grade bonus points for your participation or for taking a particular survey. Where bonus points are offered, you instructor will offer students who do not wish to participate an alternative way to obtain the points in the form of an assignment that will require sixty minutes to complete so as to be equivalent to the typical amount of time it will take students to complete the surveys. The bonus points will vary by course and instructor, but the total points given in any semester will not exceed 3% of the total course points.
Procedures for Maintaining Confidentiality of Research Records: Your personally identifiable information and responses to the surveys in this study will only be available to Dr. Ron Carriveau and his research assistant, Lindsey Taflinger, administration specialist for the CLEAR/QEP office in order for them to: 1) match your first set of survey responses to your second set of survey responses and 2) match your demographic data to your responses. Your personally identifying information will never be used for any other purpose. In addition, all of your personal identification (including your EUID) will be deleted from the database as soon as your first and second sets of responses have been matched with the demographic data obtained from the UNT Registrar's office; your EUID will be replaced with a random and unique identification code. This identification code will allow researchers to identify a set of responses as belonging to one person without allowing them to know who that person is. Your course instructor will not have access to your data until this 'de-identification' has taken place.
Questions about the Study: If you have any questions about the study, you may contact Dr. Ron Carriveau at Ronald.Carriveau@unt.edu or 940-565-3705.
Research Participant's Rights: Your clicking the consent bubble below indicates that you have read or have had read to you all of the above and that you confirm all of the following:
Your Instructor has explained the study to you and answered all of your questions. You have been told the possible benefits and the potential risks and/or discomforts of the study.
