CSU Documentation Study: Research Involving Human Subjects - Protocol Requirements

From RG-Bibliowiki

Contents 1 Research objectives 2 Significance and scientific merit of the study 3 Manner and to extent human subjects will be involved 4 Procedures, instruments, etc. to be employed 5 Existing data, if any, to be used 6 What the subjects will be told about their involvement in the study 7 Procedures for obtaining and recording the informed consent of subjects 8 Potential risks to the subjects, including psychological stress and physical hazards 9 Interventions or manipulations of subjects or their environments 10 Measures to be taken to safeguard the welfare of subjects, their right to privacy and confidentiality of information 11 Involvement of school-age children or other minors 12 Psychological tests to be used 13 Debriefing of subjects. 14 Procedures to be taken to insure prompt reporting of (a) proposed changes in the activity, (b) any unanticipated problems involving risks to the subjects or others, (c) any injury to subjects, and (d) any non-compliance with policies and procedures 15 Type of remuneration, if any, to be offered to subjects for their participation in the research

Research objectives

The goal of this project is to describe the practices of documentation and knowledge management within libraries of the California State University (CSU) system; the results may help identify best practices within academic libraries. This project is projected as a first step in a wider survey of academic libraries in the United States. Specifically, the project aims to:

1. Determine the variety of practices, tools and resources in order to ensure that the survey is comprehensive.
2. Identify the degree of professional and paraprofessional use of the knowledge management tools and resources.
3. Identify common tools in managing documentation
4. Identify any standards that identify best practices, appropriate tools and resources for a typical academic library
5. Identify any significant difference between documentation needs in academic libraries and in other organizations, particularly in the high-tech industry.

Significance and scientific merit of the study

This study has the potential to positively impact the field of library and information science, in particular the area of internal documentation and knowledge management, through the identification of best practices and useful tools. As a pilot study, it also potential to serve as the basis of a much larger national survey of academic and other types of libraries. A survey of the literature so far has not revealed any substantial investigation of this particular aspect of library operations.

Manner and to extent human subjects will be involved

The population is CSU librarians and staff. The sampling frame is the list CSU libraries and their departments. \\*\\* Stage 1: The libraries of the twenty-three CSU campuses will be asked to complete a survey that details, by department, the types of practices, tools and resources employed by their staff and administration, as well as how those tools and resources are utilized. \\*\\* Stage 2: A random cross-section of 5 to 10 department managers/coordinators from the pool of consenting participants will be selected for follow-up interviews. These interviews will allow for a more detailed analysis of practices, tool and resources utilization, clarification of issues revealed by the surveys.

Procedures, instruments, etc. to be employed

Stage 1: Online survey site will provide a report for all completed surveys. Data will include codes not linked to subject names except for those subjects who have consented to follow-up interviews The 43 questions on the Survey instrument are broken down into seven categories:

1. Personal profile
   1. Number of questions: 6
   2. Objectives:
      1. Identify personal characteristics of respondant
      2. Correlate documentation practices with area of library
      3. Correlate documentation practices with approximate age and experience of respondant
2. Library profile
   1. Number of questions: 7
   2. Objectives:
      1. Identify characteristics of library
      2. Correlate documentation practices with size of library
3. Documentation and KM practices
   1. Number of questions: 13
   2. Objectives:
      1. Identify degree, type and focus of documentation efforts
      2. Identify responsibility for creating and maintaining documentation
4. Documentation use
   1. Number of questions: 5
   2. Objective:
      1. Identify primary uses of documentation
5. KM Tools
   1. Number of questions: 4
   2. Objective:
      1. Identify tools and resources used
6. KM tool training
   1. Number of questions: 3
   2. Objective:
      1. Identify how staff are trained and who is responsible for training
7. Impact of KM resources and tools on library
   1. Number of questions: 3
   2. Objective:
      1. Determine how documentation tools and resources affect library operations
8. Follow-up Questions
   1. Number of questions: 2
   2. Objective:
      1. Consent and contact information for follow-up interview

Stage 2: The researcher will record information gathered in the interviews for analysis using tape recorder and note-taking at the time of the interviews.

Existing data, if any, to be used

No existing data shall be used for this study

What the subjects will be told about their involvement in the study

Subjects will receive full disclosure of the scope and their involvement in the study through a letter of invitation to participate sent to them via the CSU library deans. They may also examine all information on the project website, including survey questions.

Procedures for obtaining and recording the informed consent of subjects

See attached Statement of informed consent, which will be made available on the survey website and which will need to be clicked through prior to the participant beginning the survey

Potential risks to the subjects, including psychological stress and physical hazards

This study has no known risks to subjects.

Interventions or manipulations of subjects or their environments

This study involves neither intervention nor manipulation of subjects or their environments.

Measures to be taken to safeguard the welfare of subjects, their right to privacy and confidentiality of information

Surveys reports will not contain any identifying unless the participant agrees to be contacted for a follow-up interview. Any information that is obtained in connection with this study and that can be identified with participants will remain confidential and will be disclosed only with participant's permission or as required by law. No individual responses will be reported to anyone without specific permission as all responses will be aggregated.

Involvement of school-age children or other minors

This study does not involve school-age children or other minors.

Psychological tests to be used

This study involves no psychological testing.

Debriefing of subjects.

The research procedures involved in this study are not expected to result in emotional stress for participants; no debriefing of subjects will be needed.

Procedures to be taken to insure prompt reporting of (a) proposed changes in the activity, (b) any unanticipated problems involving risks to the subjects or others, (c) any injury to subjects, and (d) any non-compliance with policies and procedures

Any proposed changes to the study will be promptly submitted to the Institutional Review Board, as necessary; unanticipated problems involving risks or injury to the subjects or others will likewise be reported promptly. Participants will be made aware through the project website of reporting procedures for any non-compliance with Human Subjects policies and procedures.

Type of remuneration, if any, to be offered to subjects for their participation in the research

No remuneration will be offered to subjects for their participation in the research.