LETTER OF INFORMATION FOR CONSENT TO PARTICIPATE IN RESEARCH
TITLE OF THE STUDY: An investigation of the potential microaggression international students’ experiences on a Canadian university campus
You are asked to participate in a research study conducted by Dr. Clayton Smith and Dr. George Zhou, from the Faculty of Education at the University of Windsor. If you have any questions or concerns about the research, please feel free to contact Atiya Razi at microagproject@uwindsor.ca
PURPOSE OF THE STUDY:
This study is designed to explore international students' experiences with discrimination, potential microaggression, and racism. While no university allows discrimination and racism in their policy, the daily practice on campus can be a different story. The study aims to understand how microaggression influenced international students' sense of belonging to their new learning and living environments, coping strategies, and suggestions for universities to minimize it.
PROCEDURES
If you volunteer to participate in this study, you will be asked to participate in a semi-structured, online interview. Each interview will be guided by open-ended questions and will take approximately 60 minutes. The interviews will be audio-recorded, and notes will be taken. Interview times will be arranged between 9:00 AM and 3:00 PM on weekdays. You can negotiate the interview time. Later research results will be reported on the REB website.
POTENTIAL RISKS AND DISCOMFORTS
There are no potential risks to participating in this study. Feel free at any time to skip questions and end the interview, should you not feel comfortable. If there is any unanticipated stress caused to you from participating in the interview, a list of social work services will be attached to this letter as a helpful resource to be used if needed. In addition, if you need any social work support, I can be available to make the initial contact with the social worker if you wish, and I will be available for any support you need.
POTENTIAL BENEFITS TO PARTICIPANTS AND/OR TO SOCIETY
Participating in the study will empower you by having your voices heard (even anonymously). The findings from the research should assist higher education institutions to deepen their understanding of the students' experiences and develop educational programs responsive to their needs, create a more inclusive environment for the international students, and provide professional development to educators. It should also add more student voices to the literature, contribute to the scholarly work regarding potential micro-aggression and discrimination, and encourage related research.
COMPENSATION FOR PARTICIPATION
After the data compilation, the participants of the study will receive a $20 gift card.
CONFIDENTIALITY
Any information obtained in connection with this study and that can be identified with you will remain confidential and be disclosed only with your permission. Each participant in the interview will have a corresponding pseudonym used in the audio recording, data transcription, and any reports. All participants’ personal information and anonymously collected data will be securely handled and stored in separate password-protected files on the researcher’s laptop. The researcher only accesses the laptop. Audiotapes will be transcribed, double-checked, and then destroyed upon the completion of the report. You have a right to review/edit your interview audio recording. However, the researchers will be the only people with access to the audio recording.
PARTICIPATION AND WITHDRAWAL
Participation in the study is voluntary. You have the right to refuse to answer questions and ask the researcher to repeat/interpret questions. In addition, you can choose to withdraw before the data analysis. However, once your data have been submitted, you will not be able to withdraw because the data are anonymized.
FEEDBACK OF THE RESULTS OF THIS STUDY TO THE PARTICIPANT
The study report will be published on the REB website.
Date when results are available: September 02, 2022.
SUBSEQUENT USE OF DATA
These data may be used in subsequent studies, in publications, and in presentations.
RIGHTS OF RESEARCH PARTICIPANTS
You may withdraw from the study and discontinue your participation at any time without any penalty or consequences before data analysis. However, once the interview data is analyzed, it will not be possible to withdraw the data from the study.
If you have questions regarding your rights as a research participant, contact: Research Ethics Coordinator, University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario, N9B 3P4; Telephone: 519-253-3000, ext. 3948; e-mail: ethics@uwindsor.ca