SWoRD 2003

Registration: Step 1. Agreement

Agreement

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Agreement to Act As a Participant in a Research Study

To continuously improve this system, we need analyze your performance data. Therefore, we would like to ask you to agree to the following SWoRD policy saying that basically we will analyze your performance data without your identifications.

Thanks for your cooperation.
SWoRD

Please read the following statement carefully.

AGREEMENT TO ACT AS A PARTICIPANT IN A RESEARCH STUDY

TITLE:	SWoRD Project

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS:

Christian Schunn
University of Pittsburgh, LRDC
3939 O’Hara Street, 7th Floor
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
(412) 624-8807
Email: schunn@pitt.edu

Kwangsu Cho
University of Pittsburgh, LRDC
3939 O’Hara Street, 7th Floor
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
(412) 624-2705
Email: kwangsu@pitt.edu

DESCRIPTION:	
The purpose of this research study is to determine how student writing skills are improved through
a reciprocal peer reviewing process.  For that reason, we will be collecting their writing, reviewing and related activites in this web-based system 
located at the Univ. of Pittsburgh and also we may them to complete brief questionnaires.  
I understand that, by signing in this system, I will be participating a regular class for credits and also I will be participating in a study in which I work annonymously with other people on writing and reviewing tasks over this computer system. My job will be to learn the given tasks, and these tasks are a part of modern software design. By working together on writing and reviewing tasks, I will have opportunities potentially to learn more about how to write better, how to help others writer better, and how to work together better over the Internet. Our knowledge of these tasks will be measured through my writing and reviewing activities to be given. I understand that my experiences are an important resource in this effort. As such, my participation in the study will be recorded automatically by this software tool, and that I may be asked to recount my experiences in participating in the study.

RISKS AND BENEFITS:
I understand that there are no foreseeable risks associated with this study, and that the research team will NOT use any data from this study in an evaluative way.
As a student studying in the University, I may benefit from the study by learning the basic skills of writing and reviewing papers together online and by having task-related knowledge, 
though there is no available data yet on how effective the approach taken in this study will be.

NEW INFORMATION:
I understand that if any substantial changes are made from the plans described to me about this project that the policy on this website would be updated as soon as possible.

Credit:
I understand that as a participant, I will be given credits for my activities on this system by my instructor.

Payment:
There will be no payment made for your participation except your class credits given by your instructor.

CONFIDENTIALITY:
I understand that any information about me, including the data logged during the course of this study, will be utilized only by the members of this SWoRD project at LRDC, University of Pittsburgh, PA, USA, and will be kept confidential. No information that might identify me (i.e., my name, likeness, and/or other personal identifiers) will be recorded with the data. I understand that information gathered in the course of this research may become part of published products. In the data logs, in written descriptions, and in reports of what is learned from the study, the university researchers will make every effort to remove information that identifies me and other individuals.

RIGHT TO WITHDRAW:
 understand that I am not obligated to participate in this study, and I have the right to withdraw from this study at any time, without penalty.

VOLUNTARY CONSENT:
I read and understand all of the above.  I understand that any future questions I have about this research will be answered by the investigator(s) listed on the top of this consent form at the emails or the telephone numbers given.  By checking the following check box, I agree to participate in this research study.

	Thanks for supporting writing and reviewing research.
	Sorry but you cannot use the system.
	When creating your account, provide fake identity information. However you need inform your instructor of the information for her grading.

Scaffolded Writing and Reviewing in the Discipline