San Francisco State University

Informed Consent to Participate in Research

Research Project Title: “Student Interactions Lead to Increased Sense of Belonging”

A.PURPOSE AND BACKGROUND

The purpose of this research is to learn more about the relationship between event attendance and Sense of Belonging.  The researcher, Paul Beckman is a professor at San Francisco State University conducting research  for later publication in an academic forum.  You are being asked to participate in this study because you are an SFSU student who may use the Suitable app.

B.PROCEDURES

If you agree to participate in this research, the following will occur:

• if you use the Suitable app to find SFSU-sponsored events data about your event attendance will be recorded.  The ONLY data that will be collected about your event attendance is whether or not you attended the event.  Events may or may not be on the SFSU main campus and may or may not occur during the academic term.
• you will be asked to respond to five surveys that will be sent to you electronically.  The surveys will ask you about your Sense of Belonging to SFSU.
• total time commitment will be determined by how many events you attend and how long you stay at each event.

C.RISKS

There is a risk of loss of data privacy.  However, no names or identities will be used in any published reports of the research.  Only the researcher will have access to the research data and all stored data will be encrypted.

D.CONFIDENTIALITY

The research data will be kept in a secure location and only the researcher will have access to the data.  All research data will be stored in an encrypted document on a password protected SFSU-owned computer.  After the research study is completed, data will continue to be stored on encrypted on a password-protected SFSU-owned computer.

E.DIRECT BENEFITS

There will be no direct benefits to the participant.

F.COSTS

There will be no cost to you for participating in this research.

G.COMPENSATION

There will be no compensation for participating in this research other than the possibility of winning one of ten $100 Amazon giftcards.

H.ALTERNATIVES

Your alternative to participating in the experiment is to not participate by not responding to the surveys.

I.QUESTIONS

You have been contacted by Professor Paul Beckman about this study and have had your questions answered.  If you have any further questions about the study, you may contact the researcher by email at pbeckman@sfsu.edu.

Questions about your rights as a study participant, or comments or complaints about the study, may also be addressed to the Human and Animal Protections at 415: 338-1093 or protocol@sfsu.edu.

J.CONSENT

Your responding to the five online surveys indicates your acceptance to participate in the research project.

PARTICIPATION IN THIS RESEARCH IS VOLUNTARY.  You are free to decline to participate in this research, or to withdraw your participation at any point, without penalty.  Your decision whether or not to participate in this research will have no influence on your present or future status at San Francisco State University.