APPLICATION FOR ETHICS REVIEW OF
RESEARCH INVOLVING HUMAN PARTICIPANTS
Please remember to PRINT
AND SIGN the form, and forward TWO
copies to the Office of Research Ethics, Needles Hall, Room 1024,
with all attachments.
A. GENERAL
INFORMATION
| 1. Title of
Project: |
Library Web Site
Survey |
2.
a) Principal and Co-Investigator(s)
| Name |
Department |
Ext: |
e-mail: |
|
| Christy Branston
(administration) |
Library |
2891 |
cbransto@library.uwaterloo.ca |
|
| Helena Calogeridis
(administration) |
Library |
2611 |
hcaloger@library.uwaterloo.ca |
|
| Marina Wan (administration) |
Library |
2446 |
mlmwan@library.uwaterloo.ca |
|
| Dan Sich (administration) |
Library |
3214 |
|
|
| Sandra Keys () |
Library |
2279 |
|
2. b) Collaborator(s)
| Name |
Department |
Ext: |
e-mail: |
|
| Linda Hastings |
Library |
2659 |
lhasting@library.uwaterloo.ca |
|
| Esther Millar |
|
6992 |
ermillar@library.uwaterloo.ca |
|
| Rachel Caldwell |
Library |
7132 |
rcaldwel@library.uwaterloo.ca |
3. Faculty Supervisor(s)
| Name |
Department |
Ext: |
e-mail: |
4. Student Investigator(s)
| Name |
Department |
Ext: |
e-mail: |
Local
Phone #: |
5. Level of
Project: Other
Library
Research Specify
Course:
Research Project/Course
Status:
6.
Funding Status:
Is this project currently
funded? No
- If No, is funding being sought OR if Yes, is
additional funding being sought? No
- Period of Funding:
7. Is this research a
multi-center study?
No
If Yes, what other institutions are
involved:
8. Has this proposal been submitted to any other
Research Ethics Board/Institutional Review Board?
No
9. For Undergraduate and Graduate Research:
Has this proposal received approval
of a Department Committee? NA
10. a) Indicate the anticipated commencement
date for this project: 3/1/2005
b) Indicate the anticipated
completion date for this project: 12/31/2005
B. SUMMARY OF PROPOSED
RESEARCH
1. Purpose and Rationale for
Proposed Research
a. Briefly
describe the purpose (objectives) and rationale of the proposed project
and include any hypothesis(es)/research questions to be investigated.
Where available, provide a copy of a research proposal:
The
Library is in the process of redesigning our web site to meet the
requirements of the UW common look and feel. We would like to survey our
users via a web form throughout the redesign process in order to get
feedback from our users to help us develop a web site that meets the needs
of the user. We would like to post a survey on our current homepage from
the present to September 2005. In September we would like to launch our
newly designed site and then change the preamble of the survey, but
continue to post the same survey questions on our web site from September
- December 2005.
b. In lay language, provide a one paragraph (approximately 100
words) summary of the project including purpose and basic methods:
A web survey on the Library's web site will help the library to
develop the most appropriate web site to meet the needs of our users. The
web survey will be designed using the software provided by IST. The survey
will run from the present until September 2005. In September, there will
be slight changes made to the survey preamble, but the questions will
remain the same and the survey will continue until December 2005.
C. DETAILS OF STUDY
1.
Methodology/Procedures
a. Which
of the following procedures will be used? Provide a copy of all materials
to be used in this study.
Computer-administered task(s) or survey(s) None
are standardized.
Survey -
web
b. Provide a brief,
sequential description of the procedures to be used in this
study:
The web
survey will be posted as soon as possible. It will run until September
2005. In September, the new web site will be launched and the survey
preamble will change, but the survey will continue to run until December
2005.
c.
Will this study involve the administration of any drugs? No
2. Participants
Involved in the Study
a. Indicate who will be recruited as potential participants in this
study.
UW Participants:
Undergraduate students
Graduate
students
Faculty and/or Staff
Non-UW Participants:
Members of the general public who use the web
site
b. Describe the potential
participants in this study including group affiliation, gender, age range
and any other special characteristics. If only one gender is to be
recruited, provide a justification for this:
The survey will
be accessible to anyone who visits the Library's web site. We will not be
restricting responses or requiring a login to complete the
survey.
c. How many
participants are expected to be involved in this study? We are
not restricting the number of responses to the
survey.
3. Recruitment Process
and Study Location
a. From what source(s) will the potential participants
be recruited?
Other UW sources: Library Web site
b. Describe how and by whom the potential participants
will be recruited. Provide a copy of any materials to be used for
recruitment (e.g. posters(s), flyers, advertisement(s), letter(s),
telephone script):
There will be a link on the Library's web site asking for
users to participate in the survey. The link will say: "Help us improve
the Library's website".
c.
Where will the study take place? On
campus: virtual - on the web Off campus: virtual -
on the web
4. Compensation of
Participants
Will
participants receive compensation (financial or otherwise) for
participation? No
5. Feedback to
Participants
Briefly describe
the plans for provision of feedback. Where feasible, a letter of
appreciation should be provided to participants. This also should include
details about the purpose and predictions of the study, and if possible,
an executive summary of the study outcomes. Provide a copy of the
feedback letter to be used.
Once the
survey is submitted, the respondent will receive the following
message:
Thank you for your
feedback. The Library hopes to improve the usability of its web site from
the feedback obtained from this survey. Your response is appreciated.
D. POTENTIAL BENEFITS FROM THE
STUDY
1. Identify and describe any known or anticipated
direct benefits to the participants from their involvement in the
project:
By
receiving feedback from our users, the potential benefit of this survey is
the general improvement of the Library's web site.
2. Identify and describe any known or anticipated
benefits to the scientific community/society from this study:
The Library's web site is freely accessible to anyone. An
improved web site would help all users.
E. POTENTIAL RISKS TO PARTICIPANTS FROM THE
STUDY
1. For each procedure used in
this study, describe any known or anticipated risks/stressors to the
participants. Consider physiological, psychological, emotional, social
etc. risks/stressors.
No known
or anticipated risks
Users are anonymous.
2. Describe the procedures or
safeguards in place to protect the physical and psychological health of
the participants in light of the risks/stresses identified in
E1:
Users are anonymous.
F. INFORMED CONSENT PROCESS
Researchers are advised to review
the Sample Materials section of the ORE
website
1. What
process will be used to inform the potential participants about the study
details and to obtain their consent for participation?
Survey
participants will be anonymous and the submission of the form is
completely voluntary. All questions are optional and the form can be
submitted with or without answering particular questions.
2. If written consent cannot/will
not be obtained from the potential participants, provide a justification
for this.
Survey participants will be anonymous
3. Does this study involve persons who cannot
give their own consent (e.g. minors)? No
G. ANONYMITY OF PARTICIPANTS AND
CONFIDENTIALITY OF DATA
1.
Describe the procedures to be used to ensure anonymity of participants and
confidentiality of data both during the research and in the release of the
findings.
We will not be requiring a login nor will we be
asking for pariticpants names, therefore, the participants will not be
identifiable.
2. Describe the
procedures for securing written records, video/audio tapes, questionnaires
and recordings.
The
responses will be collected and stored on a secure surver requiring login
authentication.
3. Indicate how
long the data will be securely stored and the method to be used for final
disposition of the data.
Electronic Data
Erasing of
electronic data after 2 year(s).
Location: UW pole & library
servers.
4. Are there conditions under which anonymity of participants or
confidentiality of data cannot be guaranteed?
No
H.
DECEPTION
1. Will this study involve the use of
deception? No
Researchers must ensure that all
supporting materials/documentation for their applications are submitted
with the signed, hard copies of the ORE form 101/101A. Note that materials
shown below in bold are required as part of the ORE application package.
The inclusion of other materials depends on the specific type of
projects.
Researchers are advised to review
the Sample Materials section of the ORE web site: http://www.research.uwaterloo.ca/ethics/human/informed_consent.asp
Please check below all
appendices that are attached as part of your application
package:
- Information/Cover Letter(s)*. Used in studies involving surveys
or questionnaires.
- Data Collection Materials: A copy of all
survey(s), questionnaire(s), interview questions, interview themes/sample
questions for open-ended interviews, focus group questions, or any
standardized tests.
- Feedback letter *
* Refer to requirements for
content under Elements for Information Letters and Consent Forms,
including suggested wording:
http://www.research.uwaterloo.ca/ethics/human/samples/ElementsInfoLtrConsentForm1.htm
Please note the submission of
incomplete packages may result in delays in receiving full ethics
clearance.
We suggest reviewing your application with the Checklist For
Ethics Review of Human Research Applications
to minimize any
required revisions and avoid common errors/omissions.
http://www.research.uwaterloo.ca/ethics/form101/checklist.htm
INVESTIGATORS' AGREEMENT
I have
read the Office of Research Ethics Guidelines for Research with Human
Participants and agree to comply with the conditions outlined in the
Guidelines. In the case of student research, as Faculty Supervisor, my
signature indicates that I have read and approved the application and
proposal and deem the project to be valid and worthwhile, and agree to
provide the necessary supervision of the student.
_____________________________________
Signature of Faculty
Investigator/Supervisor |
_________________________
Date |
____________________________________
Signature of Student
Investigator |
_________________________
Date
|
FOR OFFICE OF RESEARCH ETHICS USE
ONLY:
_____________________________
Susan E. Sykes, Ph.D., C.
Psych.
Director, Office of Research Ethics
OR
Susanne Santi, M.Math
Manager, Office of Research
Ethics |
_________________________
Date
|
ORE 101
Revised August
2003
Copyright ©
2001 University of Waterloo
|