Welcome to My Survey

Thank you for participating in our survey. Your feedback is important.

Question Title

* 1. Title of Research: Development and Impact of a Pilot Program to Address Food Waste and Recycling Knowledge and Behaviors in a Public Elementary School

Funding Agency/Sponsor: Science and Engineering Research Grant, College of Science and Engineering, TCU

Principal Investigator: Gina Jarman Hill, PhD, RD, LD

Co-investigators: Nikki Finken, Josie Johnson, Liesel Sumpter

You are invited participate in a research study. In order to participate, you must be at least 18 years old and be a parent or primary caretaker of a child enrolled at North Hi Mount Elementary School. Taking part in this research project is voluntary.

Things you should know:
·       This is a research study involving human subjects that has been approved by TCU Institutional Review Board.
·       The purpose of the study is to learn more about the knowledge and behaviors of parents and caretakers of children enrolled at North Hi Mount Elementary regarding food waste, composting, and recycling. If you choose to participate, we ask that you complete two surveys (described below).
·       Taking part in this research project is voluntary. You don’t have to participate and you can stop at any time.

Please take time to read this entire form and ask questions before deciding whether to take part in this research project.

What are the purposes of the research? 
o   Describe food and other waste in a Fort Worth elementary school;
o   Create a model to reduce waste that may be replicated in other schools;
o   Initiate a composting and recycling program;
o   Begin a Shared Table program to redistribute safe foods to food insecure school children;
o   Provide education to students, families and faculty/staff regarding recycling and food waste to change behaviors at school and home;
o   Measure the effectiveness of the composting, Share Table, and recycling education and programs on waste production and waste knowledge of families, children, faculty/staff at the school.

How many people will participate in this study?  Ideally 100 parents or primary caretakers will complete the survey

What is my involvement for taking part in this study?  The participant’s involvement in the study will consist of taking this anonymous survey on two different occasions, once early in the semester and again towards the end of the semester.

What is my involvement for participating in this study?  The participant’s involvement in the study will consist of taking this anonymous survey on two different occasions, once early in the semester and again towards the end of the semester.

How long am I expected to be in this study for and how much of my time is required?  A participant should expect to spend 10-15 minutes on the survey on two separate occasions.

What are the risks of participating in this study and how will they be minimized? Personal questions about behaviors related to food waste and recycling will be asked. Participants are asked to share their income level. These questions may make participants feel uncomfortable or judged. However, the surveys are anonymous and researchers have no way to link the survey back to the person that completed it.

What are the benefits for participating in this study? Students, faculty/staff, and parents associated with North Hi Mount Elementary School will learn more about food waste, composting, and recycling. However, there is no direct benefit to those that complete the surveys. It will help researchers better understand behaviors related to waste and develop a pilot program to reduce waste that may be replicated in other schools.

Will I be compensated for participating in this study? No

What are the costs to you to be a part of the study? It does not cost anything to take part in this research study.

Question Title

* 2. Who can profit from study results?
·       Cowboy Compost will be managing the compostable waste during the duration of the study. Grant funds from TCU will be utilized to pay Cowboy Compost for waste retrieval.
·       TCU might/could be paid (e.g. licensing fees) in the future for the discoveries resulting from the study.

What is an alternate procedure(s) that I can choose instead of participating in this study?  The survey is voluntary and there are no alternate procedures at this time.

How will my confidentiality be protected?  We plan to publish the results of this study. Efforts will be made to limit the use and disclosure of your information, including research study records, to people who have a need to review this information.  All information that we collect about you is confidential. The surveys are completely anonymous. Researchers have no way to link the survey back to you. Your name will not be used if the results are published or presented at a professional meeting. All information collected will be stored and locked at Texas Christian University, and only the researchers will have access to them.

What will happen to the information collected about me after the study is over?  We will keep completed electronic surveys and consent forms securely under TCU-owned and password protected computers and websites. However, no identifying information is associated with the data.

Is my participation voluntary? It is totally up to you to decide to be in this research study. Participating in this study is voluntary. Even if you decide to be part of the study now, you may change your mind and stop at any time. You do not have to answer any questions you do not want to answer. If you decide to withdraw before this study is completed simply close out the internet browser. Surveys that are incomplete will not be utilized in the study results.

Who should I contact if I have questions regarding the study?
You may contact Dr. Gina Hill by phone at (817) 257-7309 or by email at g.jarman@tcu.edu.

Who should I contact if I have concerns regarding my rights as a study participant?
Dr. Michael Faggella-Luby, Chair, TCU Institutional Review Board, (817) 257-4355, m.faggella-luby@tcu.edu; or Ms. Lorrie Branson, JD, TCU Research Integrity Officer, (817) 257-4266, l.branson@tcu.edu.

By agreeing to this consent below, you are agreeing to be in this study. Make sure you understand what the study is about before you agree. You can request a copy of the consent document for your records by calling or emailing Gina Jarman Hill at 817 257-6320 or g.jarman@tcu.edu. A copy also will be kept with the study records.  If you have any questions about the study after you provide consent below, you can contact the study team using the information provided above.

I understand what the study is about and my questions so far have been answered. By clicking, “I agree” below, you acknowledge that you want to take part in this study.

Question Title

* 3. Is this your first or second time this semester to complete this survey?

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