CONVERSE UNIVERSITY
INFORMED CONSENT FORM FOR ADULT SUBJECTS
Title of Study: An Analysis of Accessibility and Availability of Children’s and Young Adult Islamic Faith-based Literature in the Public Libraries Within the United States of America
Student Investigator Khalisah D. Harris
Faculty Supervisor Dr. Lienne Medford
IRB Number: CCIRB25_19
You are invited to participate in a research study conducted by Khalisah D. Harris, a student in the Professional Leadership Program at Converse University in Spartanburg, SC. You must be at least 18 to participate in this study. Please read this form and ask any questions you may have before agreeing to be in the study.
PURPOSE OF STUDY:
This study aims to analyze whether children’s and young adult Islamic faith-based literature is available at the same percentage as other religious books in the United States of America public libraries. You were selected to participate in this study because you are a past or current library administrator, director, manager, supervisor, selector, cataloger, or assistant to those roles. The data collected from this study will contribute to knowledge in the literature field by enhancing knowledge and new insights. More importantly, the data will inform decision-makers to assist in policy development and inclusive endeavors, potentially shaping the future of library collections. It may also be used for presentations, conferences, and educational resources.
PROCEDURES:
If you agree to participate in this study, you will be asked your job title, work zip code, and questions measuring perspectives of Islam. The survey will take 10-15 minutes and should only be completed once. Participants will complete four demographic non-identifying questions to ensure they qualify for the survey, then have six questions about Islamic faith-based requirements at their employment. The following twelve questions will be the REDI Index survey.
VOLUNTARY PARTICIPATION:
Participation in this study is voluntary. You may skip any questions that you do not want to answer or stop participating at any time. You are free to withdraw from the study at any time without penalty, with no loss of benefits to which you were otherwise entitled.
RISKS AND BENEFITS:
The benefits of taking this survey include assisting with education, equity, and inclusion of Islamic faith-based literature. The risks of participating in this study are not more significant than those of daily life.
Although you may not directly benefit from this research, participating in it will help the researcher better understand the link between societal perceptions and the selection process and assist library policymakers in enhancing policies and procedures to ensure equity in literature.
CONFIDENTIALITY:
The information gathered will not include anyone's name or identifying information. The name of your past or current organization will not be asked; therefore, you will remain anonymous. All the data will be stored electronically, password protected, on a USB managed by the researcher. Rest assured, the data will be deleted after the information is compiled, ensuring your privacy.
COMPENSATION: There is no monetary compensation for participating in this study.
CONTACT INFORMATION: If you have any questions or concerns about the research, you can contact Khalisah Harris at kharris001@converse.edu or Dr. Lienne Medford at lienne.medford@converse.edu. If you have any questions or concerns regarding your rights as a subject in this study, you may contact the head of the Institutional Review Board Office at Converse University in Spartanburg, SC at irb@converse.edu.