VIRGINIA POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE AND STATE UNIVERSITY

Informed Consent for Participants in Research Projects Involving Human Subjects

 Title of Project: Graduate Students’ Awareness and Attitudes Toward Open Access Journals

Investigator(s):          John C. Tedesco                                         tedesco@vt.edu

                                    Name                                                             E-mail

                                    Kayla Hastrup                                             khastrup@vt.edu

                                    Name                                                             E-mail

                                    Maureen Lawrence-Kuether                     mlawre04@vt.edu

                                    Name                                                             E-mail


I. Purpose of this Research Project

This study will seek to investigate graduate students’ awareness, attitudes, and use of open access journals. Results will be used for class purposes and may be used for publication at some point in the future. You will be among 100 participants from the graduate student population at a large, southeastern research university and potentially from other universities in the U.S. 

II. Procedures

Should you agree to participate you will be directed to an online survey from Qualtrics software and presented with a survey. You will be presented with demographic questions, then a questionnaire to measure your awareness, attitudes and use of open access journals. In total, this task will require approximately 15 minutes of your time. There will be no additional requirements after completing the questionnaire.

III. Risks

This study poses no physical risks to participants and a minimized possibility of emotional distress from answering a questionnaire.

IV. Benefits 

This research project aims to expand current knowledge on perceptions of open access practices.

No promise or guarantee of benefits has been made to encourage you to participate.

V. Extent of Anonymity and Confidentiality

Data collected from participants will include identifying information such as e-mail addresses and names. This data will be used only to discern what are interested in receiving follow-up information or final results. Otherwise, identifying information will remain confidential and stored separately from the data used for item analysis. Researchers with password protected accounts will be able to see what students participated, but not the study data used for item analysis. Beyond these researchers, at no time will the names release identifiable results of the study to anyone other than individuals working on the project without your written consent.

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

No participants will receive compensation for participating in the survey.
 
VII. Subject's Consent
 
VIII. 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 note that there may be circumstances under which the investigator may determine that a subject should not continue as a 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.
 
IX. 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 subject, or need to report a research-related injury or event, you may contact the VT IRB Chair, Dr. David M. Moore at moored@vt.edu or (540) 231-4991.