INFORMED CONSENT DOCUMENT
Project Title: Second Life Proprietary Software
Principal Investigator: Margo Genesis
*Must be 18 years or older to participate in this focus group.
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THIS STUDY?
You are being invited to take part in a research study designed to address whether or not simulation software will be accessible on Second Life. The results will be used for a Marketing Research class presentation. I am studying this because the client is interested in using Second Life as a tool to house simulation software that she is developing.
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THIS FORM?
This consent form gives you the information you will need to help you decide whether to be in the study or not. Please read the form carefully. You may ask any questions about the research, the possible risks and benefits, your rights as a volunteer, and anything else that is not clear. When all of your questions have been answered, you can decide if you want to be in this study or not.
WHY AM I BEING INVITED TO TAKE PART IN THIS STUDY?
You are being invited to take part in this study because you are a member of Second Life, and the purpose of the study is to determine the accessibility of Second Life as a host for simulation software.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN DURING THIS STUDY AND HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE?
You will be asked to answer the questions provided in the forum. The questions should take between 20-30 minutes to complete. No follow-up is required.
WHAT ARE THE RISKS OF THIS STUDY?
There are no foreseeable risks of this study.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF THIS STUDY?
I do not know if you will benefit from this study. However, we hope that, in the future, other people might benefit from this study because simulation software will be more readily available to provide hands-on learning.
WILL I BE PAID FOR PARTICIPATING?
You will not be paid for participating in this study.
WHO WILL SEE THE INFORMATION I GIVE?
The information you provide during this research study will be kept confidential to the extent permitted by law. To help protect your confidentiality, the results of this data will be kept in a locked file cabinet, by the professor, for two semesters and then destroyed.
If the results of this project are published your identity will not be made public.
DO I HAVE A CHOICE TO BE IN THE STUDY?
If you decide to take part in the study, it should be because you really want to volunteer. You will not lose any benefits or rights you would normally have if you choose not to volunteer. You can stop at any time during the study and still keep the benefits and rights you had before volunteering.
You will not be treated differently if you decide to stop taking part in the study. You are also free to skip any questions if you do not wish to answer.
WHAT IF I HAVE QUESTIONS?
If you have any questions about this research project, please contact: Margo Genesis at
[email]meb330@truman.edu[/email]
If you have questions about your rights as a participant, please contact the Truman State University Institutional Review Board Administrator, at (660) 785-7459 or by email at [email]Grants4Truman@yahoo.com[/email].
Your completion of this survey indicates that this research study has been explained to you, that your questions have been answered, and that you agree to take part in this study. You will receive a copy of this form.
Questions:
1. Do you use simulation software in your job or school? Yes/no? Why/why not?
a. For what specific use?
2. If not, are you interested in using simulation software?
a. Do you perceive this software to be: Difficult to use? Too complex to use? Requiring specific knowledge to use?
3. If yes, what steps are you taking to learn about using simulation software?
4. What are the advantages of utilizing simulation software?
5. What are the disadvantages/difficulties of utilizing simulation software?
Questions will be posted on the forum and left open until November 4 regardless of response. No follow up forum will occur.