Georgia State University
Department of Geosciences
Informed Consent
Title:Faith-Motivated Community Development in Urban America
Principal Investigators: Katherine B. Hankins
Andy Walter
I. Purpose:
You are invited to participate in a research study. The purpose of the study is to investigate the role of faith-motivated community development activities in urban America. You are invited to participate because you are a current or past member of an urban ministry that is registered with the Christian Community Development Association (CCDA).
This research is not commissioned by CCDA or any of its affiliate organizations. This research is being conducted by Katherine B. Hankins and Andy Walter Georgia State University and University of West Georgia Departments of Geosciences. A total of approximately 400 participants from urban ministries across the country will be recruited for this study. Participation will require approximately twenty to thirty minutes of your time. Overall, we hope to gain information about the role of faith-motivated actors in shaping urban neighborhoods.
II. Procedures:
If you decide to participate, you will be asked to fill out an online survey that includes a series of questions about your activities with faith-motivated community development in your area. It should take no more than thirty minutes to complete. Your survey responses will be recorded, and the original survey response will be kept in a locked office for a period of five years. You will not be compensated for your time. You have the opportunity to be contacted for a follow up interview; however, you are not required to volunteer to be contacted for a follow-up interview.
III. Risks:
In this study, you will not have any more risks than you would in a normal day of life.
IV. Benefits:
Participation in this study may not benefit you personally.
V.Voluntary Participation and Withdrawal:
Participation in research is voluntary. You do not have to be in this study. If you decide to be in the study and change your mind, you have the right to drop out at any time. You may skip questions or stop participating at any time. Whatever you decide, you will not lose any benefits to which you are otherwise entitled.
VI.Confidentiality:
We will keep your records private to the extent allowed by law. Katherine Hankins and Andy Walter will have access to the information you provide. Information may also be shared with those who make sure the study is done correctly (GSU Institutional Review Board, the Office for Human Research Protection (OHRP) and/or the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the sponsor). We will use a code rather than your name on study records. The information you provide will be stored on a password- and firewall-protected computer in a locked office at Georgia State University and/or at the University of West Georgia. The key code sheet, which identifies your information, will be stored separately from the data to protect your privacy. All survey data and the code sheet will be destroyed in five years from the date of this consent form.
All your responses will be confidential, unless you voluntarily elect to provide identifying information. Without your permission we will not collect such information such as your name, email address or IP address. We will do our best to keep your information confidential. All data is stored in a password protected electronic format. Your name and other facts that might point to you will not appear when we present this study or publish its results. The findings will be summarized and reported in group form. You will not be identified personally unless you designate your permission by initialing the bottom of this form.