Informed Consent Form
Project Title: Promoting Economic Integrity through Institutional Alternative Dispute Resolution: A Law and Policy Perspective
You are invited to participate in a research study conducted by Dr. Shahla Ali in the Faculty of Law at the University of Hong Kong.
PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
This project will examine institutional dispute resolution mechanisms used in major financial centers. It will investigate what is working well and what can be improved in the resolution of financial disputes using alternative dispute resolution mechanisms.
PROCEDURES
This study will be conducted through the use of an anonymous on-line survey. You will be asked to respond to a set of survey questions which will take 15-20 minutes to complete.
POTENTIAL RISKS / DISCOMFORTS AND THEIR MINIMIZATION
Aside from potential inconvenience, no known risks are associated with the survey process.
Should any negative effects occur as a result of your participation in the interview, please contact the Human Research Ethics Committee for Non-Clinical Faculties, HKU (2241-5267).
COMPENSATION FOR PARTICIPATION
Participants will not receive compensation for their participation.
POTENTIAL BENEFITS
The potential benefits of the study include the development of policy proposals and recommendations that could lead to the strengthening of financial alternative dispute resolution mechanisms.
ARRANGEMENT
After completion of the survey, results will be tabulated. Data will then be analyzed and reviewed.
CONFIDENTIALITY
The research team of this project undertakes that any information obtained from the online survey will remain strictly confidential, and will be used for research purpose only. Except members of this research team, all information you provided will not be circulated to any third party.
The research team will not know your IP Address when you respond to the online survey.
All the information collected from the survey will be disposed immediately after the completion of the project.
PARTICIPATION AND WITHDRAWAL
The research team absolutely respects your decision to participate and withdraw from the survey or skip any question: you have the right to decide whether to participate in the survey and, in the process of the survey, to terminate the survey at any time.
STORAGE OF DATA
All the information collected from the online survey will be disposed immediately after the completion of the project.
QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS
If you have any questions or concerns about this project, please feel free to contact the investigator of this Project:
Dr. Shahla Ali
Faculty of Law, 4/F K K Leung Building, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong.
Email: sali@hku.hk
Tel: (852) 2859-2931
Fax: (852) 2559-3543
If you have questions about your rights as a research participant, please contact the Human Research Ethics Committee for Non-Clinical Faculties, HKU (Tel: (852) 2241-5267).
By beginning the survey, you acknowledge that you have read this information and agree to participate in this research, with the knowledge that you are free to withdraw your participation at any time without penalty.
Thank you very much for your participation.
Date of Preparation: September 26, 2011
HRECNCF Approval Expiration date: September 16, 2012