Informed Consent
- Susan Tratner of Empire State College is inviting you to take part in a study of trust in the jewelry industry. Participation in this study is voluntary and you must be at least 18 years of age to participate.
- In order to decide whether or not you wish to be part of this study you should know enough about its risks and benefits to make an informed judgment. This consent form provides detailed information regarding this study. Please feel free to ask about anything you do not understand and to consider this research and the consent form carefully—as long as you feel necessary – before you make a decision.
- This research is intended to understand the culture of trust in the jewelry industry and in your professional life. It will be a one-on-one interview that will be recorded unless you specifically as not to be recorded.
- This study is trying to get at what behaviors and characteristics improve trusting feelings and behaviors in the supply chain of the jewelry trade. If you decide to participate, you will be asked a series of open-ended questions regarding your experiences in the jewelry industry. The purpose of these interviews is to gain objective information regarding trust and the jewelry industry. The complete interview will require answering a series of questions and will require approximately one hour of your time.
- The questions have been created to elicit your thoughts, feelings and cultural knowledge surrounding these topics. These questions pose no greater risk than you are likely to encounter in everyday life.
- Participation in this project is entirely voluntary. You may refuse to participate in the research as a whole or in a specific portion of the project. You may also decline to answer any specific questions, either in total or for it to be recorded. Regardless of your participation, or lack thereof, you will obtain no special treatment (positive or negative).
- All recordings will be transcribed, but only with a pseudonym. No one will ever know the specific information that you provide comes from you. Only the researcher who interviews you will have access to your name and contact information. She will not share this information with anyone.
- All information that you provide will be kept strictly confidential. The recordings and the transcriptions will be stored in a locked cabinet or in a password protected server, to which only Dr. Tratner will have access. Your name or initials will not be used on records. Your name will only be kept as a record of consent and only the researcher will have access to that information. Consent forms and names from the consent forms will not be associated in any way with the transcription or recording. By law, the researcher must keep all data and consent forms for five years, after which time they will be destroyed.
- The results of this study may be published; however, the researcher is not looking at individual responses, but at responses of groups of people. This means she will combine all data in looking at the results and that your name, or any other identifying characteristics, will not be used in any of the publications. If you would like a copy of the study, you may request it at any time after it is available by contacting Dr. Tratner at her number (below). Likewise, if you have any questions about this research, now or at a future time, you can call Dr. Tratner.
- Participation in this study provides no direct benefit.
- There are no known risks associated with participation in this study. Although the procedures are relatively simple to complete and should not pose any significant inconvenience or discomfort for you, there is a possibility of discomfort associated with some of the more personal questions. If you prefer, you may refuse to answer a particular question and you can choose to withdraw completely from the study at any time without penalty. In the unlikely event that you feel discomfort and feel the need for assistance, you can contact Bellevue at 462 1st Ave (212) 562-4141.
- If you have any questions, now or at a future time, please contact Dr. Tratner at (917) 673-4397 or via e-mail at susan.tratner@esc.edu
- If you have any questions concerning your rights as a subject, Emily Behnke Director, Office of Sponsored Programs SUNY Empire State College emily.behnke@esc.edu 518.580.4766 x2319
- By signing this form, you are affirming that you voluntarily consent to participate in this study, having read and fully understood the description of the study and its procedures, and your rights as a participant. You are also affirming that you have had the opportunity to ask questions, and all your questions have been answered to your satisfaction.
Subject (print) ___________________________ (signature)___________________ (date)_____
Researcher(print) _________________________(signature)___________________ (date)_____
Empire State College
Recording Release Consent Form
Protocol Number:
Lead Researcher: Susan Tratner
Title: The role of trust in the jewelry industry
As part of this project, an audio or video recording will be made of you during your participation in this research project. Please indicate below the uses of these recording to which you are willing to consent. This is completely voluntary and up to you. In any use of the recordings, your name will not be identified.
- The recording can be studied by the researcher for use in the research project. _____ (initials)
- Anonymous sections of the transcription of the recording can be studied for use in the research project. _____ (initials)
- Anonymous sections of the transcription of the recording can be used in a published work. _____ (initials)
- Anonymous sections of the transcription of the recording can be used in a presentation at a scientific conference. _____ (initials)
You have read the above description and give your consent for the use of recording as indicated above.
Printed Name:_________________________
Signature:_________________________
Date:_________________________