Solutions to Closing the Digital Divide
Paul Ross Grand Canyon University
Questionnaires and Interviews
Grand Canyon University
Institutional Review Board
3300 W. Camelback Rd.
Phoenix, AZ. 85017
602-639-7804 | irb@gcu.edu
What?
  • Optional: Complete a demographic questionnaire willing to answer optional personal, identifiable demographic questions related to gender, race/ethnicity, level of education, field received for highest degree, country of residence, geographic region located, area/topic expert in, and principal industry (5 min).
  • Take part in a Digital Divide Content questionnaire (10-15 minutes)
  • Participate in a one-on-one interview, which will include questions on the digital divide, barriers, and solutions, and discuss in detail a conceptual model of the digital divide (The interview will take approximately 45-60 minutes)
When?
The questionnaire and interview will take place between June and September 2024.

Where?
Interviews will take place virtually using WebEx. The questionnaire will use Google Forms.

How?
The questionnaires will use a secure platform, Survey Monkey and interviews will be conducted using WebEx.
Introduction
The title of this research study is Solutions to Closing the Digital Divide. I am Paul Ross, a doctoral student under the supervision of Dr. Maul in the College of Doctoral Studies at Grand Canyon University. The purpose of this study is to understand the main reasons behind the digital divide in education in the United States. It will identify the barriers that cause this divide and explore possible solutions. The goal is to create a model that shows how these solutions can help close the digital divide and improve all students' access to digital resources and learning.

Key Information

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

How do I know if I can be in this study?
  • Over the age of 18.
  • Participated in at least two activities connected to the digital divide.
    • Presented at a conference on the topic.
    • Presented at a workshop on the topic.
    • Presented on the topic.
    • Presented a keynote on the topic.
    • Written a paper, report, or publication on the topic.
    • Authored a peer-reviewed paper on the topic.
    • Implemented a solution to closing the digital divide.
    • Participated in a listserv discussion on the topic.
    • Professional experience or knowledge of closing the digital divide.
You cannot participate in this study if you:
  • Require approval from an employer or a site to participate.
  • Do not agree to record interviews.
  • Do not agree to respond to the digital divide content questionnaire.
  • Do not agree with the informed consent.
Research Activities: What am I being asked to do?
If you agree to be in this study
Audio Recording:
I will use an audio recorder or the audio recording feature of the online conferencing platform WebEx to record your responses. You cannot participate if you do not wish to be recorded. The recording will be downloaded to a local external hard drive. The contents will be encrypted and erased from the online recording. You can only participate if you agree to be recorded. Pseudonyms will replace the names of people, places, and entities mentioned.

The privacy policy for the online conferencing platform is here.
https://otter.ai/privacy-policy
https://help.webex.com/en-us/article/nv2hm53/Webex-Security-and-Privacy

Video Recording
I will use WebEx (i.e., video camera or video recording feature of the online conferencing platform WebEx) to record your actions. Because this recording will show who you are, these extra steps will be taken: The recording will be downloaded to a local external hard drive. The contents will be encrypted and erased from the online recording. You can only participate if you agree to be recorded. Pseudonyms will replace the names of people, places, and entities mentioned.

You cannot participate if you do not wish to be recorded.
The privacy policy for the online conferencing platform is here.
https://help.webex.com/en-us/article/nv2hm53/Webex-Security-and-Privacy
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 completely voluntary. After reading this informed consent, you can decide whether to participate in this study or not. Also, if you choose to participate and then change your mind, you can leave the study at any time, even if you have yet to finish, without any penalty or loss of benefits to which you are otherwise entitled. If you decide to stop participating, you may do so by emailing pross14@my.gcu.edu. If so, I will not use the information that I collected from you before you choose 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?
No.

Presentation of Information Collected
The research data will be presented in a dissertation, journal articles, presentations, and conferences. The data will be grouped and accompanied by non-attributable quotations when relevant to the topic.
Privacy and Data Security

Will researchers ever be able to link my data/responses back to me?
Yes, the information collected is confidential and is not anonymous. Any information collected is anonymously reported using a coded participant ID.

Will my initial data include information that can identify me (names, addresses, or other identifying material, such as audio, specific demographics, etc.)
Yes. The demographic data will contain names, email addresses, geographic regions, race/ethnicity, and connected industries.

Will researchers assign my data/responses a research ID code to use instead of my name?
Yes. Each participant will be assigned a coded participant ID and a pseudonym, replacing individual names.

If yes, how will researchers create a list to link names with their research ID codes?
A secure link registrar document will be kept. It will be encrypted on an external USB flash drive, separated from the data collected, and coded with pseudonyms.

If yes, how will researchers secure the link of names and research ID codes? How long will the link be kept? Who has access? What is the approximate destruction date?
A link register will be kept by the researcher. It will be encrypted on an external USB flash drive, separated from the data collected, and coded with pseudonyms. 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 answers as part of the dissertation review process. The register will have an approximate destroy date of October 2027.

How and where will my data be protected (electronic and hardcopy)?
Data (demographic and initial content questionnaire, emails, consent forms, field notes, memos, audio and video recordings, documents, and interview transcripts) will be protected with usernames, complex passcodes, multifactor authentication, and file-level encryption on an external drive, the researchers’ laptop, and desktop. The data to be collected will include:

Will artificial intelligence (AI) software be used?
For enhanced research efficiency, artificial intelligence (AI) software may be utilized to analyze collected data and may involve the de-identified exchange of some personal or sensitive information. The data will not be disclosed in a way that could identify you.

How long will the data be kept in the protected space?
The minimum is 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, mTurk, Google, etc.), any recording software (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, etc.), interview software, survey software, artificial intelligence software, or transcription software companies?

https://otter.ai/privacy-policy
https://help.webex.com/en-us/article/nv2hm53/Webex-Security-and-Privacy
https://www.surveymonkey.com/mp/legal/privacy/
https://infranodus.com/about/privacy-policy

Where and how will the signed informed consent forms be secured?
The consent forms are signed electronically using Survey Monkey and stored on a protected encrypted external drive.
For California Residents ONLY
For the state of California, participants have additional rights through the State: The right to know about the personal information a business collects about them and how it is used and shared; The right to delete personal information collected from them (with some exceptions); The right to opt-out of the sale of their personal information; and The right to non-discrimination for exercising their CCPA rights. For more information, click on the link below:

California Consumer Privacy Act: https://www.oag.ca.gov/privacy/ccpa

Future Research
Once identifiers for people, places, and entities are removed from the data collected for this study, the de-identified information could 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 Paul Ross at pross14@my.gcu.edu or 614.946.4500.

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.

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.
Your signature means that you understand your rights listed above and agree to participate i

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* 1. Your signature means that you understand your rights listed above and agree to participate in this study.

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* 2. Enter a date when this form was submitted.

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* 3. Enter your email address for communications relating to the research study.

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