Understanding MS Online Course Evaluation Study
This Participant Information Sheet is meant for participants in the Understanding MS Online Course.
- Invitation
You are invited to participate in research on the Understanding MS online course. This research is being conducted by the MS online course team from the Menzies Institute for Medical Research at the University of Tasmania: Ms Alice Saul (Postdoctoral Research Fellow), Dr Bruce Taylor (Professor), Dr Ingrid van der Mei (Professor), and Dr Julie Campbell (Postdoctoral Research Fellow), in collaboration with MS Limited.
- What is the purpose of this research?
The purpose of this research is to gather information about the experience of taking the Understanding MS online course, so that we can better understand who is best served by the course and how we can improve it for future enrolments. It will also allow the MS online course team to explore the experience of living with MS and of members in the MS community around the world.
- Why have I been invited to participate?
You have been invited to participate in this research because you have enrolled in the Understanding MS online course.
Your participation is voluntary (your choice). There are no consequences if you decide not to participate and it will not affect your relationship with the University, MS Limited, or any service/treatment you receive, such as participation in the this or other courses or MS Ltd programs.
- What will I be asked to do?
To participate in this research, you will need to give consent for researchers to evaluate information from activities that you will complete while taking this course. These include the sign-up form, the enrolment survey, discussion boards, quizzes and activities, the course evaluation survey, and feedback emails that you might send in. All of these except the sign-up form are voluntary (your choice) aspects of this course.
- Are there any possible benefits from participation in this study?
We do not anticipate any possible benefits to you personally from participation in this study. However, the MS online course team will use the information gathered during this project to improve this course for future participants and to improve MS knowledge translation.
- Are there any possible risks from participation in this study?
We do not anticipate any risks from participation in this study.
- What if I change my mind during or after the study?
You are free to withdraw at any time and can do so without providing an explanation. Should you withdraw, we will withdraw the data you have provided from any on-going analyses.
- What will happen to the information when this study is over?
All data will be treated in a confidential manner and kept on the University of Tasmania network in restricted-access folder on the university server for five years from the publication of the study results, and will then be destroyed. The Chief Investigator will be responsible for ensuring data will only be accessed by the project team members for research purposes. Unattributed (no name attached) quotations that are not identifiable may also be used for marketing purposes and to provide feedback to MS community members who contributed to the creation of the course.
- How will the results of the study be published?
The MS online course team will identify peer-reviewed, academic journals in which to share the findings of the research to the broader learning and teaching community. Study results will be shared with participants through a summary, which will be sent via email. You will not be identifiable in any publication arising from this research.
- What if I have questions about this study?
If you have any questions about the study, please contact:
Ms Alice Saul: alice.saul@utas.edu.au OR (03) 6226 7700
Dr Bruce Taylor: Bruce.Taylor@utas.edu.au OR (03) 6226 7765
This study has been approved by the Tasmanian Social Sciences Human Research Ethics Committee. If you have concerns or complaints about the conduct of this study, please contact the Executive Officer of the SSHREC (Tasmania) Network on +61 3 6226 2975 or email ss.ethics@utas.edu.au. The Executive Officer is the person nominated to receive complaints from research participants. Please quote ethics reference number H0028435.
What now?
This information sheet is for you to keep. A downloadable version is available below.
There are 33 questions in this survey.
