Research Questions for Maddox Kelly’s Honors Thesis Project

Thank you for agreeing to participate in Maddox Kelly’s Senior Thesis Research Project. Please answer the following questions in the survey to the best of your ability. Do not receive or give help on this survey. You may withdraw from the study at any time without penalty. Once complete, please submit and exit out of Survey Monkey.

Consent to Participate in a Research Study

Survey for Forensic Science Professionals

You are being asked to take part in this research study because a senior honors student is conducting a research project for the completion of the program. Research studies include only people who choose to take part. To participate in this research, you must be 24 years old or older. Please read this consent form carefully and take your time making your decision. The nature of the study, risks, inconveniences, discomforts, and other important information about the study are listed below.

The study is being conducted by Maddox Kelly. The principal investigator of the study is Maddox Kelly, an undergraduate student in the Division of Sociology and Behavioral Sciences at Walsh University. If participants have any questions about any section of the consent form, survey, or general study, feel free to direct any questions to the principal investigator. You can reach him at mkelly8@walsh.edu. Participants can also direct questions to the researcher’s advisor, Dr. Amy J. Heston. You can reach her at aheston@walsh.edu.

WHY IS THIS STUDY BEING DONE?
This study is being done to determine issues within processes and procedures within forensic investigation in both forensic labs and CSI units.

HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL TAKE PART IN THIS STUDY?
We are looking for 50-75 participants for this study.

WHAT IS INVOLVED IN THE STUDY?
If you agree to be in this study, you will be asked to complete a consent form and complete a survey. You will be asked a series of questions including: Likert scale, and short answer questions.

HOW LONG WILL I BE IN THIS STUDY?
Your participation in this study is expected to take 15-20 minutes. The study ends when you have completed and submitted the survey.

WHAT ARE THE RISKS OF THE STUDY?
There are no risks to participating in this study. Every effort will be made to maintain your privacy and anonymity.

ARE THERE BENEFITS TO TAKING PART IN THE STUDY?
There are no benefits to partaking in this study.

WHAT ARE THE COSTS?
There are no costs associated with participation in this research study.

WILL MY INFORMATION BE KEPT CONFIDENTIAL?
No identifying information will be gathered, and study records will be kept confidential as required by law. The data will be collected anonymously. Federal Privacy Regulations provide safeguards for privacy, security, and authorized access. Except when required by law, you will not be identified by name, social security number, address, telephone number, or any other direct personal identifier in study records disclosed outside of Walsh University. For records disclosed outside of Walsh University, you will be assigned a unique code number. The data will be stored for three years after the study has ended with the intent of using data for publication purposes. Electronic data will be stored on a locked computer.

Your records may be reviewed in order to meet federal or state regulations. Reviewers may include representatives of Walsh University’s Institution Review Board (IRB) for the Protection of Human Subjects. If this information is disclosed to outside reviewers for audit purposes, it may be further disclosed by them and may not be covered by the federal privacy regulations. The study results will be retained for at least three years after the study is completed. At that time either the research information will be destroyed or information identifying you will be removed from such study results at Walsh University. The researcher may continue to use the information collected for future use once your identifying information has been removed.

WHAT ABOUT MY RIGHTS TO DECLINE PARTICIPATION OR WITHDRAW FROM THE STUDY?
You may choose not to be in the study, or, if you agree to be in the study, you may stop your participation at any point during the survey. Subjects may withdraw from the study at any time during the survey portion, but the survey data cannot be removed once submitted because responses are anonymously collected.

Your decision not to participate or to withdraw from the study will not involve any penalty or loss of benefits to which you are entitled. You must withdraw before submitting any responses. Any responses submitted before withdrawing will not be able to be removed due to the anonymous nature of the survey. Participants may withdraw during the survey portion, and may do so by exiting out of the survey.

WHOM DO I CALL IF I HAVE QUESTIONS OR PROBLEMS?
For questions about the study, or if you have complaints, concerns or suggestions about the research, contact Maddox Kelly at mkelly8@walsh.edu.

For questions about your rights as a research participant, or to discuss problems, concerns or suggestions related to the research, or to obtain information or offer input about the research, contact Walsh University’s IRB office at (330) 490-7443 or irb@walsh.edu.