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Protocol # 12351
IRB Approval Date: January 18, 2022
Consent Document Expires: May 15, 2023
v.10
Informed Consent
Observing Young Children’s Developmental Support of Toddler Siblings During Play
Introduction
You are invited to participate in a research study conducted by Dr. Lisa Boyce, a professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies at Utah State University, and Tasha Olson, a doctoral candidate in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies at Utah State University. The purpose of this research is to identify the developmentally supportive behaviors children aged 3 to 8 years use during play with their younger siblings, aged 1 ½ to 3 years, and learn more about the factors that affect those behaviors. Your participation and your children’s participation is entirely voluntary.
This form includes detailed information on the research to help you decide whether to participate. Please read it carefully and ask any questions you have before you agree to participate.
Procedures
Your participation as your children’s caregiver will involve completing a series of questions about your family and your children in an online questionnaire (Qualtrics) that should take about 20 minutes. You will be asked to either (a) record and upload a 10-minute video of your children playing together or (b) meet with a research assistant for 15-minutes via Zoom to record your children playing together, whichever is easier for you.
Your children’s participation will involve your children being video recorded playing together for 10 minutes. Your children will be asked to play together as they normally would, using three categories of toys or play materials you already have in your home: a book or pictures to talk about, toys for pretending, and a toy for problem-solving and sharing. If you do not have toys or play materials that fit into these categories, a research assistant will help you identify other toys that you already have that would be appropriate for the observation. Your children’s total participation will be 10 minutes.
We anticipate that 60 families with young sibling pairs will participate in this research study.
Risks
This is a minimal risk research study. That means that the risks of participating are no more likely or serious than those you encounter in everyday activities. The foreseeable risks or discomforts include loss of confidentiality, frustration with technology, or discomfort answering questions about your family and children. In order to minimize those risks and discomforts, the researchers will follow strict confidentiality protocolssuch as assigning participants a random identification number and storing videos and data in a restricted-access folder on Box.com, a secure cloud storage platform, accessible only by members of the research team; address technology frustration by pre-testing and troubleshooting technology and identifying multiple alternative platforms; and being available through email to address concerns or answer questions about the questionnaires. If you have a bad research-related experience, please contact Lisa Boyce at Lisa.Boyce@usu.edu or Tasha Olson at Tasha.Olson@usu.edu.
Benefits
Participation in this study may directly benefit you and your children through the feedback we will give about the positive, developmentally supportive things your older child does with your younger child during play. We will send you a list of those developmentally supportive behaviors no more than 2 weeks after you submit the video of your children playing together or meet with a research assistant.
We will also offer ideas for fun activities siblings can do together and tips for supporting positive sibling interactions upon submitting the video recording of your children playing together or after the meeting with a research assistant.
Human Development and Family Studies | 435-797-1551 | 2905 Old Main Hill | Logan, UT 84322
Page 2 of 3
Protocol # 12351
IRB Approval Date: January 18, 2022
Consent Document Expires: May 15, 2023
v.10
Confidentiality
The researchers will make every effort to ensure that the information you provide as part of this study remains confidential. Your identity will not be revealed in any publications, presentations, or reports resulting from this research study.
We will collect your information and your children’s information through online questionnaires on Qualtrics and video recordings. Online activities always carry a risk of a data breach, but Qualtrics is widely used for secure data collection, and we will use systems and processes that minimize breach opportunities. Survey data will be confidential and inaccessible to anyone except for the lead researchers on this project. Video will be viewed only by researchers trained in confidentiality procedures. Data and video files will be securely stored in a restricted
access folder on Box.com, an encrypted, cloud-based storage system, labeled by non-informative identification numbers. Identifiable information such as contact information and names you provide as part of the Qualtrics survey will be separated from the data file and destroyed upon completion of this project.
Video file information will be destroyed by December 1, 2024, unless you provide separate consent to use them for training and research presentations. We will not use video-recordings of you and your child for any additional purpose, such as research presentations, education, or training, unless we request and you provide separate additional consent. This form will be kept for three years after the study is complete and then destroyed.
The research team works to ensure confidentiality to the degree permitted by technology. It is unlikely, but possible, that unauthorized individuals could gain access to your responses provided online. However, your participation in this online survey involves risks similar to a person's everyday use of the Internet. It is unlikely, but possible, that others (Utah State University or state or federal officials) may require us to share the information you give us from the study to ensure that the research was conducted safely and appropriately. We will only share your information if law or policy requires us to do so. If the researchers observe any signs of child abuse or neglect or intent to harm a child or one’s self, state law requires researchers to report this immediately to the appropriate authorities.
Voluntary Participation & Withdrawal
Your participation in this research is completely voluntary. If you agree to participate now and change your mind later, you may withdraw at any time by contacting Lisa Boyce at Lisa.Boyce@usu.edu or Tasha Olson at Tasha.Olson@usu.edu. If you choose to withdraw after we have already collected information about you, we will remove any identifiers from your data and delete your video file. If you decide not to participate, the services you receive from the Department of Human Development and Family Studies will not be affected in any way. The researchers may choose to terminate your participation in this research study if you do not complete the questionnaires or you do not upload a video-recording of your children or meet with a research assistant to record a video. You will be notified that you have been removed from the study by email or text.
Future Participation
Identifiers may be removed from your information. De-identified data may be used or distributed for future research without additional consent from you. If you do not wish for us to use your information in this way, please select that option in the question after you sign the form.
Human Development and Family Studies | 435-797-1551 | 2905 Old Main Hill | Logan, UT 84322
Page 3 of 3
Protocol # 12351
IRB Approval Date: January 18, 2022
Consent Document Expires: May 15, 2023
v.10
IRB Review
The Institutional Review Board (IRB) for the protection of human research participants at Utah State University has reviewed and approved this study. If you have questions about the research study itself, please contact the Principal Investigator at Lisa.Boyce@usu.edu or 435-797-2713. If you have questions about your rights or would simply like to speak with someone other than the research team about questions or concerns, please contact the IRB Director at (435) 797-0567 or irb@usu.edu.
Lisa Boyce
Principal Investigator Lisa.Boyce@usu.edu 435-797-2713
Informed Consent
Tasha L. Olson
Student Investigator Tasha.Olson@usu.edu
By completing the information below, you agree to participate in this study. You indicate that you understand the risks and benefits of participation, and that you know what you will be asked to do. You also agree that you have asked any questions you might have and are clear on how to stop your participation in the study if you choose to do so. Please be sure to retain a copy of this form for your records..
________________________________ ________________________________ ______________ Participant’s Signature Participant’s Name, Printed Date
I do not agree to allow my de-identified information to be used or shared for future research.
Permission to Participate
By signing below, you agree to allow your children to participate in this study. You indicate that you understand the risks and benefits of your children’s participation, and that you know what your children will be asked to do. You also agree that you have asked any questions you might have and are clear on how to stop your family’s participation in the study if anyone would like. Please be sure to retain a copy of this form for your records.
________________________________ ________________________________ ______________ Parent/Legal Guardian’s Signature Parent/Legal Guardian’s Name, Printed Date
________________________________ ________________________________ Older Sibling’s Name, Printed Younger Sibling’s Name, Printed
I do not agree to allow my children’s de-identified information to be used or shared for future research.
Human Development and Family Studies | 435-797-1551 | 2905 Old Main Hill | Logan, UT 84322