INFORMED CONSENT FORM

Introduction

The title of this research study is Employee Motivators and Sales Performance in the Insurance Industry: A Predictive Study.

My name is Krista Walzer. I am a doctoral learner under the direction of Dr. James Brown in the College of Doctoral Studies at Grand Canyon University.

The purpose of this study is to see if there is a connection between employee motivation and sales performance in the insurance industry. Participants will take a 20-question survey to determine their motivation type, which will be compared to their sales performance.

Key Information

This document defines the terms and conditions for consenting to participate in this research study.

How do I know if I can be in this study?
You can participate in this study if:
  • You are a fully licensed property and casualty salesperson who has sold every month from January 1, 2024, to December 31, 2024.
  • You live and work in the state of Pennsylvania.
  • You are okay answering personal questions about your age and how many years of experience you have.
You cannot participate in this study if:
  • You are not a fully licensed property and casualty salesperson who has sold every month from January 1, 2024, to December 31, 2024.
  • You do not live and work in the state of Pennsylvania.
  • You are not okay answering personal questions about your age and how many years of experience you have.
Research Activities: What am I being asked to do?
If you agree to be in this study, you will be asked to:

What?
  • Answer questions to make sure you qualify for the study (1 minute)
  • Answer a few questions about your age and years of experience (1-2 minutes)
  • Take a 20-question SurveyMonkey survey. Nineteen questions use a rating scale from 1 to 7. One question will ask you to report the total amount of premiums sold from January 1, 2024, to December 31, 2024 (7-8 minutes)
When?
All surveys need to be completed within 2 weeks of receiving them.

Where?
Participation is entirely online. Once you volunteer to be in the study, a SurveyMonkey link will be sent to you. The SurveyMonkey will include the inclusion criteria and demographic questions, as well as the 20 questions to determine your motivation type, which will be compared to your sales performance.
How?
Data will be collected through an online survey, using a secure platform called SurveyMonkey.

Who will have access to my data/information?
I will have access to all of your data and information. In addition, my dissertation chair, committee members, and all College of Doctoral Studies Reviewers may view your information and your answers as part of the dissertation review process.

Am I required to participate in this study?
Your participation in this study is voluntary. After reading this informed consent, you can decide if you want to participate. If you choose to participate and then change your mind, you can leave the study at any time, even if you have not finished, without any penalty or loss of benefits to which you are otherwise entitled. If you decide to stop participating, you can exit the page at the top of your screen. If you exit, I will not use the information that I collected from you before you chose to stop.

Any possible risks or discomforts?
There are no foreseeable risks or discomforts associated with this study.

Any direct benefits for me?
No

Any paid compensation or incentives for my time?
Participants will not get paid for their participation.

Presentation of Information Collected

The research data will be presented through the publication of a dissertation. The data will be a single score for each of the five motivation types by averaging the answers to each question associated with that motivation type. For example, if someone answered “4, 5, and 3” on the three questions related to Intrinsic Motivation, these scores would be averaged to reveal an Intrinsic Motivation score of “4”.

Privacy and Data Security

Will other researchers ever be able to link my data/responses back to me?
No

Will my initial data include information that can identify me (names, addresses, or other identifying material, such as audio, specific demographics, etc.)
The data collected will not include any information that can identify you. This includes names, addresses, or audio/video recordings. All data will remain anonymous.

Will researchers assign my data/responses a research ID code to use instead of my name?
No

How and where will my data be protected (electronic and hardcopy)?
The data collected will be stored as follows:
  • A paid and password-protected SurveyMonkey account.
  • A copy saved in Excel form on my personal computer, which is also password protected.
  • A copy in my password-protected Dropbox account.
Will artificial intelligence (AI) software be used?
No

How long will the data be kept in the protected space?
The data will be stored for at least three years.

Who will have access to the protected data?
I will have access to all of your data and information. In addition, my dissertation chair, committee members, and all College of Doctoral Studies Reviewers may view your information and your answers as part of the dissertation review process.

What is the privacy policy for survey platforms (Survey Monkey, Qualtrics, mTurks, Google, etc.), any recording software (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, etc.), interview software, survey software, or transcription software companies?
See SurveyMonkey's legal terms and conditions

Where and how will the signed informed consent forms be secured?
The informed consent forms will be stored in a password-protected SurveyMonkey account.

Future Research

Personal identifiers will not be used in the data collection for this study, so the information can be used for future research studies or distributed to other investigators for future research studies without additional informed consent from you or your legally authorized representative.

Study Contacts

Any questions you have concerning the research study or your participation in the study, before or after your informed consent, will be answered by Krista Walzer, kwalzer@my.gcu.edu, (817) 307-4590.
If you have questions about your rights as a subject/participant in this research, or if you feel you have been placed at risk, you can contact the Chair of the Human Subjects Institutional Review Board through the College of Doctoral Studies at IRB@gcu.edu; (602) 639-7804.

Question Title

* 1. Voluntary Consent

Participant Rights
  • You have been given an opportunity to read and discuss the informed consent and ask questions about this study;
  • You have been given enough time to consider whether or not you want to participate;
  • You have read and understand the terms and conditions and agree to take part in this research study;
  • You understand your participation is voluntary and that you may stop participation at any time without penalty.

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