Conducting Educational Research

CHAPTER 2
You are invited to participate in a research study conducted by Patricia Morrell and
James Carroll, School of Education, University of Portland.
This study is being conducted for several purposes:
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1. Initially to help determine what kind of support, training, or resources you
need or would like to have to help you in integrating the Smart Board and
Student Response System into your teaching;
2. To evaluate, at the end of the school year, the professional development
delivered and determine what you may still want help with in the future;
3. To see what affect, if any, the use of the technologies has had on student
achievement;
4. To learn how teachers infuse these technologies into their teaching; and
5. To shed light on the benefits and problems associated with a school-wide
adoption of new technologies.
To help with objectives 1, 2 and 5, we are asking for your assistance by completing
this survey. Your participation in this study is voluntary. Your decision whether or
not to participate will not affect your relationship with the researchers or the
administration at XYZ Middle School. If you decide to participate, you are free to
withdraw your consent and discontinue participation at any time without penalty.
All responses you make will be confidential. Only information in the aggregate
will be reported. We will have two survey collections: one now and another at the
end of the school year. We ask for an identification number (the last 4 digits of
your phone number) just so we can track responses from the same individual over
the two survey administrations.
We do not foresee any risks in your participating in this study. You would benefit
from this study by helping to shape the professional development offered regarding
use of the new technologies, by allowing us to trouble shoot any problems that
might have been unforeseen with the integration of these technologies into your
teaching, and by learning what affect, if any, the use of the technologies has had on
student achievement.
If you have any questions about this study or the survey please contact Tisha
Morrell at morrell@university.edu (123-456-7890) or Jim Carroll at carroll@
university.edu (123-456-7890). If you have any questions regarding your rights as
a research subject, contact the IRB at the University of Portland.
Your submission of the survey indicates that you have read and understand the
information provided above, that you willingly agree to participate, that you may
withdraw your consent at any time and discontinue participation without penalty,
that you received this form, and that you are not waiving any legal claims.
Thank you!
Figure 2.2. Sample of letter of informed consent to accompany an anonymous survey.