Informed Consent Form

TITLE OF PROJECT: Design Case Project: An Evaluation of Virginia Tech's Computer Science Department's CS 3604 (Professionalism in Computing) Web Pages

INVESTIGATORS: Jennifer L. Burt, Robert Mitchell, and Luoqi Zhang

I.  THE PURPOSE OF THIS RESEARCH

You are invited to participate in a study concerning the evaluation of Virginia Tech's Computer Science Department's CS 3604 (Professionalism in Computing) web pages.  This part of the study involves surveying the perceptions and activities of current users of the CS 3604 web pages.

To accomplish the goals of this part of the study, you will be asked to complete a paper- and-pencil questionnaire relating to your use of the CS 3604 web pages.  Participation in this study will require approximately 20 minutes of
your time, and in order to participate, you must be at least 18 years old.

There are no apparent risks involved with participation in this study.

A general benefit of this project is the opportunity to provide information which may ultimately lead to the improvement of web pages used for instructional purposes at Virginia Tech.

No guarantee of direct benefits has been made to encourage you to participate.
 
If you would like to view a summary of this research when it is completed, please check the following web address for a link related to this design case project on or after December 2, 1997: http://ei.cs.vt.edu/~cs5724/.

The written responses collected in this study will be kept strictly confidential.  At no time will the researchers release an individual participant's responses.  The information you provide will be identified through the use of a randomly assigned participant number; and only this number (not your name) will be used during data analyses and in any reports of this research.

No financial compensation will be offered to you for participation in this project.

You are free to withdraw at any time without penalty.

This research project has been approved, as required, by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) for Research Involving Human Subjects at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and by Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University's Department of Computer Science (IRB# 97-255).

I voluntarily agree to participate in this study.  I understand that I have the following responsibilities:

1.)  To read all of the questionnaire's instructions
2.)  To provide a written response for each of the questionnaire's items

I have read and understand the informed consent and conditions of this project.  I have had all my questions answered.  I hereby acknowledge the above and give my voluntary consent for participation in this project.

If I participate, I may withdraw at any time without penalty.  I agree to abide by the rules of this project.

(Investigator) Jennifer L. Burt - (540) 953-2490   (Investigator) Robert Mitchell - (540) 951-1927   (Investigator) Luoqi Zhang - (540) 552-9167   (Faculty Advisor) John M. Carroll - (540) 231 6931   (Faculty Advisor) J. A. N. Lee - (540) 231-5780   (Director, Sponsored Programs) H. T. Hurd - (540) 231-5281