Today’s Plan:
- IRB Document
Why Are We Doing This?
I fully acknowledge that ENG 329 Professional Writing and Digital Video is a rather strange course. It is born out of my desire to craft a space in the writing minor for folks to learn a technology. I consider it as much a workshop as I do a “course.”
That said, as with most of my courses, my emphasis is on thinking about transferable skills and helping to prepare you for the job market. There a bunch of jobs out there that call for videography and fundamental editing skills. But there’s also a bunch of jobs out there that deal with customer research and user testing. The Just One Thing project aims at helping you prepare for those jobs, too. We’ll continue working on the technical, cinemagraphic, and aesthetic dimensions of video while we explore some of the fundamentals of data collection.
Today we are going to approach data collection two ways. First, we are going to explore Institutional Research Board protocols for human subjects, otherwise known as IRB. I have approval from UNC to approve your research projects.
I want to pay specific attention to the policies and procedures for producing an informed consent document (pp.17-21).
Here is an IRB form from a study I conducted several years ago.
Here is a link to the IRB form I will distribute to y’all next week.
Here is the sentence I’d like you to revise: “This project involves minimal risk. Since you are being asked to post to an online community, it is possible that you will encounter rude or derogatory commentators.”
Here is the paragraph I’d like you to revise:
This study focuses on three things. First, I am investigating whether teaching viral video projects can improve civic participation. As student participants, I will ask you to shoot short persuasive videos asking people to make a small change to their daily routine. We will distribute these videos online. Second, I measuring how well we can use this video project to teach usability, how to conduct focus groups, and how to synthesize and report on user feedback. After you distribute your video, you and your classmates will sign up to test another person’s recommendation for 30 days. You will develop surveys and focus group questions to solicit user feedback. Third, I am interested in how we can develop methods for revising video. My field, Rhetoric and Composition, is still grappling with how to teach revision, a core compositional element, with something as linear and production-heavy as video.
Here is a direct link to the readability site.
The Informed Consent document requires the following paragraph:
Participation is voluntary. You may decide not to participate in this study and if you begin participation you may still decide to stop and withdraw at any time. Your decision
will be respected and will not result in loss of benefits to which you are otherwise entitled. Having read the above and having had an opportunity to ask any questions, please sign below if you would like to participate in this research. A copy of this form will be given to you to retain for future reference. If you have any concerns about your selection or treatment as a research participant, please contact the Office of Research, Kepner Hall, University of Northern Colorado Greeley, CO 80639; 970-351-1910.
That paragraph checks in at a 13.8 grade level! Let’s enjoy the irony. Now let’s revise it.
Here is my revision:
Participation is voluntary. You may decide not to participate in this study. If you begin participation, you may decide to stop at any time. Your decision will be respected. There is no penalty for withdrawal. Please read this form carefully. Ask any questions you have. If you are willing to participate in this research, then sign this form. You will receive a copy of this form for future reference. If you have any concerns about your selection or treatment as a research participant, then please contact Sherry May, IRB Administrator, Office of Sponsored Programs, 25 Kepner Hall, University of Northern Colorado Greeley, CO 80639; 970-351-1910.
I’d like you and your teammates to copy my UNC IRB above and use it as a template to generate an informed consent document for your Just One Thing projects. Share the document with insignificantwrangler@gmail.com. Make sure anyone with the link can edit.
Homework
Here is a link to the calendar. We are meeting in the Michener recording room on Wednesday to record mock interviews. This will serve two purposes. First, we want practice recording someone who is speaking. Second, we are going to edit this audio next week, so we can play with adjusting the volume and gain in Premiere.
