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Digital Literacies for Ministry Gateway

Digital Literacies for Ministry Survey - Informed Consent

Teachers College, Columbia University
525 West 120th Street
New York NY 10027
212 678 3000

INFORMED CONSENT

Protocol Title: Digital Literacies for Ministry
Principal Investigator: The Rev. Kyle Oliver, Teachers College

608.669.2279 | kmo2144@tc.columbia.edu

INTRODUCTION

You are being invited to participate in a research study called “Digital Literacies for Ministry.” You may qualify to take part in this research study because you are a full or part-time ministry practitioner or trainee and you are over 18 years old. Approximately 200-500 people will participate in this study and it will take 30-60 minutes of your time to complete.

Funding for this study has been provided by the Association for Theological Schools. 

WHY IS THIS STUDY BEING DONE? 

This study is being done to better understand faith leaders’ attitudes and experience using digital media tools in ministry. In particular, the researchers wish to determine what kinds of digital skills faith leaders have, which skills they think are important, and how to conceptualize those skills.

WHAT WILL I BE ASKED TO DO IF I AGREE TO TAKE PART IN THIS STUDY?
 
If you decide to participate, you will be invited to complete an online survey. The survey will take approximately 30 minutes to complete. If you were invited to participate in this study as part of a class or other learning experience, you will be invited to complete the survey again after the experience is complete. If you are participating in this way, this survey will have no effect on your grade.

In order to match your first response to a possible second response, you will be asked to log in with a code. This code will contain enough information (first and middle initial, birth month, and first two letters of your birth city) for the researchers to match your survey results to any previous records. No one but the researchers will see these codes, which will be used for survey response matching only.

You can take the survey at any convenient time using an Internet-connected device and the secured link we provide.

WHAT POSSIBLE RISKS OR DISCOMFORTS CAN I EXPECT FROM TAKING PART IN THIS STUDY? 

This is a minimal risk study, which means the harms or discomforts that you may experience are not greater than you would ordinarily encounter in daily life while taking routine physical or psychological examinations or tests. You do not have to answer any questions or divulge anything that you don’t want to share. You can stop participating in the study at any time without penalty.

The principal investigator is taking precautions to keep your information confidential and prevent anyone from discovering or guessing your identity, such as keeping all information on a password-protected computer. 

WHAT POSSIBLE BENEFITS CAN I EXPECT FROM TAKING PART IN THIS STUDY? 

There is no direct benefit to you for participating in this study. Participation may benefit the field of practical theology to better understand leaders’ attitudes and experiences toward using digital media tools in ministry. 

WILL I BE PAID FOR BEING IN THIS STUDY? 

You will not be paid to participate. There are no costs to you for taking part in this study. 

WHEN IS THE STUDY OVER? CAN I LEAVE THE STUDY BEFORE IT ENDS? 

The study is over when you have completed the survey(s). However, you can leave the study at any time even if you haven’t finished.

PROTECTION OF YOUR CONFIDENTIALITY

All electronic or digital information will be stored on a computer or cloud drive that is password protected. 

For quality assurance, the study team, the study sponsor (grant agency), and/or members of the Teachers College Institutional Review Board (IRB) may review the data collected from you as part of this study. Otherwise, all information obtained from your participation in this study will be held strictly confidential and will be disclosed only with your permission or as required by U.S. or State law. 

HOW WILL THE RESULTS BE USED? 

The results of this study will be published in journals and presented at academic conferences. Your identity will be removed from any data you provide before publication or use for educational purposes.

WHO CAN ANSWER MY QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS STUDY?

If you have any questions about taking part in this research study, you should contact the principal investigator, Rev. Kyle Oliver, at 608.669.2279 or at kmo2144@tc.columbia.edu. You can also contact the faculty advisor, Dr. Lalitha Vasudevan at 212-678-6660.

If you have questions or concerns about your rights as a research subject, you should contact the Institutional Review Board (IRB) (the human research ethics committee) at 212-678-4105 or email IRB@tc.edu. Or you can write to the IRB at Teachers College, Columbia University, 525 W. 120th Street, New York, NY 1002.  The IRB is the committee that oversees human research protection for Teachers College, Columbia University. 

PARTICIPANT’S RIGHTS

  • I have read and been given the opportunity to discuss the informed consent with the researcher. I have had ample opportunity to ask questions about the purposes, procedures, risks and benefits regarding this research study. 
  • I understand that my participation is voluntary. I may refuse to participate or withdraw participation at any time without penalty of any kind, including to my grade if I am taking this survey as a part of a course.
  • The researcher may withdraw me from the research at his or her professional discretion if my responses are incomplete.
  • If, during the course of the study, significant new information that has been developed becomes available which may relate to my willingness to continue my participation, the investigator will provide this information to me as an addendum at the beginning of the survey. 
  • Any information derived from the research study that personally identifies me will not be voluntarily released or disclosed without my separate consent, except as specifically required by law. 
  • Identifiers will be removed from the data. De-identifiable data may be used for future research studies, or distributed to another investigator for future research without additional informed consent from the subject or the representative.
  • This page represents my copy of the Informed Consent document. I may print or save it for my records, or I may contact the principle investigator, who will provide me with a copy.


Click “I AGREE,” if you would like to participate in this study. By clicking “I AGREE,” you affirm that you are 18 years of age or older and a full or part-time ministry practitioner or trainee.