You have been invited to take part in a research study. Before you decide whether to take part it is important for you to understand why the research is being done and what it will involve. Please take time to read the following information carefully and discuss it with friends and relatives if you wish to. Ask us if there is anything that is not clear or if you would like more information. Take time to decide whether you wish to take part or not. Thank you for reading this.
What is the study about?
The Decolonising DMU project is an institution wide initiative which aims to address racial inequality in the university experience. Following two years of work focusing on the attainment gap, the project identified a need to not only address teaching, learning and assessment but to develop a much broader, institution wide approach to better understand, appreciate and challenge the factors which contribute to there being an attainment gap. The purpose of this study is to monitor the impact of the Decolonising DMU project, to ensure that it is achieving what it set out to do and is benefitting those whom it intends to support.
What does the study involve?
Your involvement in this research will take the form of a short survey. The survey will begin by collecting demographic data (gender, ethnicity, etc.) to support us in understanding the voices that are represented within the information that the survey collects and highlighting any trends within the data. This will be followed by a series of questions relating to your university experience.
Why have I been chosen?
The evaluation of the Decolonising DMU project seeks to provide all staff and students with the opportunity to share their views on the project. As a member of staff at De Montfort University, we are keen to learn more about your understanding of and engagement with our work.
Do I have to take part?
It is up to you to decide whether or not to take part. If you do decide to take part you will be given this information sheet to keep and be asked to sign a consent form. If you decide to take part you are still free to withdraw at any time and without giving a reason.
I am interested in taking part, what do I do next?
If you are interested in taking part, please return to the survey page and select continue to begin providing your responses.
What if I agree to take part and then change my mind?
You can withdraw from the study at any time, without giving a reason. If you are able to provide the precise time and date of your completion of the survey, it may be possible to remove any existing data that you have provided. However, without the time and date we are not able to remove data, due to the anonymous nature of the survey.
Please also note that the survey tool used is JISC online surveys which is designed to protect respondent anonymity. Online surveys does not use cookies for survey completion and external tracking software such as Google Analytics is not supported on online surveys. Additionally, you cannot access any information about respondents’ IP addresses.
What are the possible disadvantages and risks of taking part?
Whilst all efforts will be made to reduce any potential disadvantages or risks to participation, it is acknowledged that participants will have to give their time over the course of the project to engage with the staff voice survey. Additionally, it is acknowledged that the nature of the project may be very personal for some participants. Whilst the research team are not able to personally provide you with support around racist incidents, they can provide you with the information necessary to take forward reports if you wish to do so.
What are the possible benefits of taking part?
Participation in the research will help the university to improve its provision for staff and students, regardless of their background. This research provides you with an opportunity to have your voice heard and to help shape the future of the Decolonising DMU project and the university as a whole.
What if something goes wrong?
If you are harmed by taking part in this research project, there are no special compensation arrangements. If you are harmed due to someone’s negligence, then you may have grounds for a legal action but you may have to pay for it. Regardless of this, if you wish to complain, or have any concerns about any aspect of the way you have been approached or treated during the course of this study, the normal University complaints mechanisms should be available to you.
Who can I complain to?
If you have a complaint regarding anything to do with this study, you can initially approach the lead investigator (Dr Lucy Ansley). If this achieves no satisfactory outcome, you should then contact the Administrator for the Faculty Research Ethics Committee, Research & Innovation Office, Faculty of Health & Life Sciences, 3.35 Edith Murphy House, De Montfort University, The Gateway, Leicester, LE1 9BH or hlsfro@dmu.ac.uk
Will my taking part in this study be kept confidential?
All information which is collected about you during the course of the research will be kept on a password protected database and is strictly confidential. You are not required to provide your name as part of the research, however, should you choose to volunteer for further contact this information will be stored separately from your survey responses to protect your anonymity. Any identifiable information you may give will be removed and anonymised. It is DMU policy to retain data for 5 years after a study is completed, it will then be destroyed.
What will happen to the results of the research study?
The results of this study will be used to generate evaluation reports for the Decolonising DMU project. Additionally, the research may feed into journal publications and the Decolonising DMU website. If you would like to receive a copy of the findings, this can be organised at your request.
Who is organising and funding the research?
The research is internally funded by DMU.
Who has reviewed the study?
This study has been reviewed and approved by De Montfort University, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences Research Ethics Committee.
Contact for Further Information
If you have any questions regarding this study, please feel free to email the project team at: decolonisingdmu@dmu.ac.uk
Thank you for volunteering to take part in the study.