Survey Consent Form

Title: Understanding Land Use Issues in the Grand Falls – Windsor – Baie Verte – Harbour Breton Region

Researchers: Dr. Kelly Vodden and Janelle Skeard, Memorial University, Department of Geography

You are invited to take part in a research project entitled “Understanding Land Use Issues in the Grand Falls-Windsor – Baie Verte – Harbour Breton Region.” This form is part of the process of informed consent. It should give you the basic idea of what the research is about and what your participation will involve. It also describes your right to withdraw from the study at any time. In order to decide whether you wish to participate in this research study, you should understand enough about its risks and benefits to be able to make an informed decision. This is the informed consent process. Take time to read this carefully and to understand the information given to you. Please contact the researcher, Dr. Kelly Vodden, if you have any questions about the study or for more information not included here before you consent.

It is entirely up to you to decide whether to take part in this research. If you choose not to take part in this research or if you decide to withdraw from the research once it has started, there will be no negative consequences for you, now or in the future.

Introduction:

Dr. Kelly Vodden is a community based research expert and professor with Memorial University of Newfoundland. Janelle Skeard is a Masters student in the Department of Geography. This project has been funded by the Rural Secretariat – Executive Council, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Land use planning and community engagement have been identified as important, related aspects of development in the Grand Falls-Windsor – Baie Verte – Harbour Breton region. This study is meant to provide a way for local residents to voice their concerns and opinions regarding land use planning in their area. The results will be analysed and included in an integrated land use planning document that will provide insight and information related to land use issues, planning, and management in the region.

Purpose of study:

The objectives of this study are to understand how local residents view the land use planning processes and decisions that affect them, including current or potential conflicts, concerns or opportunities related to land use. We are also exploring current and potential approaches to managing land use related issues and developing land use strategies in your region.

The results will be analysed and included in a report on integrated land use planning that will be provided to various provincial agencies, to participating organizations and municipalities throughout the region, and on a project website (see http://cwlanduse.ruralresilience.ca). The intent is that the collected information will be used to inform policy and decision makers of potential future approaches to land use planning in the region and issues that should be taken into consideration in this process. The ultimate goal is to help organizations and governments within the region work towards a regional land use plan, which will provide a vision and goals for the distribution, management and use of land and resources within the region.

What you will do in this study:

In this survey, we will ask you to provide information related to land use planning and management in the Grand Falls-Windsor – Baie Verte – Harbour Breton region. The questionnaire is approximately 10 questions long and will cover demographic information (your age, where you’re from, etc.) as well as ask your opinion about a series of land use related statements about issues that were identified in an initial literature review scan completed in 2011. The survey is completely anonymous and you can leave out any question that you feel uncomfortable with.

Length of time:

The survey will take approximately 20 minutes to fill out.

Withdrawal from the study:

Participation in this study is completely voluntary and there will be no negative consequences if you refuse to participate in it, withdraw from it, or refuse to answer certain questions. Because survey respondents are anonymous, however, if you do so choose to withdraw your survey can not be destroyed and any answers given will be used up to the point of your withdrawal will be retained by the researcher for use in the research study.

Possible benefits:

Respondents can benefit from having their opinions and concerns reflected within the research and potentially used to influence land use-related decisions in the region.

Both the scholarly community and land use planning practitioners will benefit from this collected information that may not be readily available and the resulting insights into land use planning issues and approaches in the region and in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Possible risks:

The project does involve a risk for individuals engaged in land use or land use planning activities that may be reflected negatively on within the research. However, by ensuring broad participation the researchers will seek to ensure that multiple perspectives are considered and reflected in the research findings.

Confidentiality vs. Anonymity:

There is a difference between confidentiality and anonymity: Confidentiality is ensuring that identities of participants are accessible only to those authorized to have access. Anonymity is a result of not disclosing participant’s identifying characteristics (such as name or description of physical appearance).

Confidentiality and Storage of Data:

Your name will not be associated with any documents. Instead, a code will be assigned to each survey indicating the date and time of the interview. This is to ensure that if you wish to withdraw in the future, we can identify your survey to destroy it. The hard copies of surveys will be stored in a locked filing cabinet to which only the research team will have access. The information taken from surveys in electronic format will be saved on a password-protected computer that only certain members of the research team will have access to. All research team members, including interviewers and transcriptionists have signed an oath of confidentiality to ensure the information you provide is treated with the utmost care and confidentiality is ensured to the greatest extent possible.

Anonymity:

Anonymity is a desirable protection for participants. Where small samples and specific research topics are involved (e.g. participation in focus group), it is extremely difficult to promise full assurance of anonymity. We promise you as a participant that every reasonable effort will be made to assure your anonymity and that you will not be identified in any reports and publications without explicit permission.

Reporting of Results:

The collected data will be used to develop a report to be presented to the Rural Secretariat Executive Council. We will not be using any direct quotes, or any identifying characteristics, instead the data will be in summarized form.

Sharing of Results with Participants:

The results of this research will be provided back to participating communities and organizations in the form of a final summary report. Any individual (who did or did not participate in the survey) can request a copy of the report or will be able to find it on the project website: http://cwlanduse.ruralresilience.ca.

Questions:

You are welcome to ask questions at any time during your participation in this research. If you would like more information about this study, please contact: Dr. Kelly Vodden, Memorial University, Department of Geography, (709)-746-8607.

The proposal for this research has been reviewed by the Interdisciplinary Committee on Ethics in Human Research and found to be in compliance with Memorial University’s ethics policy. If you have ethical concerns about the research (such as the way you have been treated or your rights as a participant), you may contact the Chairperson of the ICEHR at icehr@mun.ca or by telephone at 709-864-2861.

Consent:

By proceeding with this survey you are indicating that:

• You have read the information about the research.

• You have been able to ask questions about this study.

• You are satisfied with the answers to all your questions.

• You understand what the study is about and what you will be doing.

• You understand that you are free to withdraw from the study at any time, without having to give a reason, and that doing so will not affect you now or in the future.

• You understand that any data collected from you up to the point of your withdrawal will be retained by the researcher for use in the research study

If you decide to proceed, you do not give up your legal rights and do not release the researchers from their professional responsibilities.

 

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