Study Information
About this research
You are being asked to participate in a research study. Scientists do research to answer important questions which might help change or improve the way we do things in the future.
This form will give you information about the study to help you decide whether you want to participate. Please read this form, and ask any questions you have, before agreeing to be in the study.
Taking part in this study is voluntary. You may choose not to take part or may leave the study at any time. Leaving the study will not result in any penalty or loss of benefits to which you are entitled. Your decision whether or not to participate in this study will not affect your current or future relations with Indiana University.
This research is intended for individual 18 years of age or older, who are residents of the United States. If you are under age 18 or are not a U.S. resident, do not participate in this research.
Why is this study being done?
The purpose of this study is to learn about how disability and accessibility impact the workplace, and what can be done to make accessibility easier for everyone involved.
You were selected as a possible participant because you are either (a) a person with a disability, or (b) a current or prior employer (e.g., a manager, supervisor, or company founder) at a workplace.
The study is being conducted by Dr. Erin Brady in the Human-Centered Computing department of the School of Informatics and Computing at Indiana University, Indianapolis. It is funded by the National Science Foundation (proposal #1909850).
What will happen during the study?
If you agree to be in the study, you will do the following things:
First, you will be interviewed by the researchers about your experiences around disability and accessibility in the workplace. This initial interview will be conducted either in person, over phone/video chat, or by text chat or email (depending on your preferences and accessibility needs), and will last 60 to 90 minutes. Your interview will be audio-recorded, or the text records will be saved by the researcher.
After the interview, the researchers will write a research portrait about your experiences in the workplace. This research portrait should reflect the stories and experiences you shared with us in your own voice, but will not include your name or any personally-identifiable information about you. After the first version of this portrait is completed, we will send you a link to the research portrait in a shared document editor (like Microsoft Word Online or Google Docs). You will be able to edit, refine, or critique the portrait, and we will work together to refine the portrait. This process will take place on your own schedule, and could take between 0 and 120 minutes depending on the participant's engagement. We will record the changes you make to the portrait document.
The total length of your involvement will range from 60 to 210 minutes.
How will my information be protected?
All research includes at least a small risk of loss of confidentiality. Efforts will be made to keep your personal information confidential. We cannot guarantee absolute confidentiality. Your personal information may be disclosed if required by law. Your identity will be held in confidence in reports in which the study may be published. The original audio recordings or text records of our interview will only be available to the researchers involved in this project, and will be kept indefinitely. We may use anonymized excerpts from the audio records, text logs, or transcripts for educational purposes.
Organizations that may inspect and/or copy your research records for quality assurance and data analysis include groups such as the study investigator and his/her research associates, the Indiana University Institutional Review Board or its designees, the study sponsor, the National Science Foundation, and any state or federal agencies who may need to access your research records (as allowed by law). State and federal agencies may include the Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP).
What are the risks and benefits of taking part in this study?
The risks of participating in this research include being uncomfortable answering the interview questions.
We don’t expect you to receive any benefit from taking part in this study, but we hope to learn things which will help scientists in the future.
Will I be paid for participation?
You will be compensated with a $25 Amazon digital gift card, sent to your email address after the interview is finished. Participants will not receive further compensation during the collaborative editing of the research narratives, and there will be no partial payment.
Who should I call with questions or problems?
For questions about the study, contact the researcher, Dr. Erin Brady, at 317-278-7672 or by email at worka11y@iupui.edu.
For questions about your rights as a research participant or to discuss problems, complaints or concerns about a research study, or to obtain information, or offer input, please contact the IU Human Subjects Office at 800-696-2949 or at irb@iu.edu.