Wichita State University
Institutional Review Board Approval
11/07/13 – 11/06/14
Consent Form: Coaches and Child Abuse Questionnaire
Dear Youth Sport Coach,
I am writing to request your participation in a study of youth sport coaches’ attitudes on child abuse policies and reporting. We hope to learn more about how youth sport coaches view the subject of child abuse as it relates to their profession and their organization.
You were selected as a possible participant in this study through an Internet search of youth sport organizations, and because of your employment and/or volunteer work as a coach of youth sport programs. Approximately 300 youth sport coaches from across the United State will be asked to participate in the survey.
It is advised that all participants print a copy of this consent form for their records before continuing. The CCAQ asks about your perceptions of child abuse as it relates to your position, such as training, policies and procedures. You will be asked to provide some demographic information about yourself as well, such as age, gender, ethnic background, experience coaching youth sport teams, years in your current position, and educational background. Completing the survey generally takes two to five minutes.
There are no anticipated risks associated with completing this study. However, if you feel uncomfortable with a question, you may skip it. Your open and honest responses are critical to the success of this project.
There is no cost to participate, and the risks to you are minimal, though you may become more self-conscious or more aware of child maltreatment and abuse. Your responses and the responses of others will lead to a better understanding of youth sport program coaches’ views regarding the identification and reporting of child abuse in youth sport settings.
Any information obtained in this study in which you can be identified will remain confidential and will be disclosed only with your permission. Participants will not be identified by name at any time throughout the process. Survey results will be delivered first to the professional survey website, where the responses will be tabulated and sent to the primary researcher (Jeff Noble). The responses will then be coded and prepared for data entry and analysis. The researcher will not know the names of the respondents, as it is not part of the data collection. Responses will be kept confidential at all times, and only the principal researcher will have access to the data.
Participation in this study is entirely voluntary. Your decision will be respected and will not result in loss of benefits to which you are entitled. Your decision whether or not to participate will not affect your relationship with your future relations with Wichita State University. If you agree to participate in this study, you are free to withdraw from the study at any time without penalty.
If you have questions or concerns about this study, please contact the principal investigator, Dr. Jeff Noble, Wichita State University, Wichita, KS 67260-0127, phone 316-978-5442, or email at Jeffrey.noble@wichita.edu. If you have questions pertaining to your rights as a research subject, or about research-related injury, contact the Office of Research and Technology Transfer at Wichita State University, Wichita, KS 67260-0007, telephone (316)978-3285.
You are under no obligation to participate in this study. Completing the survey indicates that you have read the information provided above and have voluntarily decided to participate.
You may print a copy of this consent form for your records.
Sincerely,
Jeff Noble, Ed.D
Department of Sport Management
Wichita State University