LETTER OF INFORMATION FOR CONSENT TO PARTICIPATE IN RESEARCH
You are asked to participate in a research study conducted by Gagneet Kaur, a 4th year B.A (Honours) Sociology & Criminology student and Dr Clayton Smith from the Faculty of Education at the University of Windsor. If you have any questions or concerns about the research, please feel to contact Gagneet Kaur at 647-966-9975 or Dr. Clayton Smith at 519-253-3000 ext. 3802.
TITLE OF STUDY
Cultural Insensitivity within Canadian Post-Secondary Institutions: An Analysis of South Asian International Students Perspectives
PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
This study will explore instances of cultural insensitivity against South Asian International students at the University of Windsor campus. This study will help us understand the nuanced experiences of racial bias faced by South Asian students at the University of Windsor campus, and will highlight the need for cultural awareness training initiatives for university personnel to make Canadian universities collaborative and inclusive spaces.
PROCEDURES
If you volunteer to participate in this study, you will be asked to participate in an individual interview. The individual interviews will take place virtually via Zoom.
POTENTIAL RISKS AND DISCOMFORTS
The research may cause students to relive adverse impact experiences including those that impacted their personal wellness while attending the University of Windsor. All participants will be provided a list of wellness resources upon completion of an individual interview.
POTENTIAL BENEFITS TO PARTICIPANTS AND/OR TO SOCIETY
The study will result in highlighting incidents of racial bias on campus. It will also help us understand the cause of the discrimination aimed towards international students, in this case, South Asian students, and help create awareness regarding the lack of knowledge around cultural awareness initiatives on campus.
COMPENSATION FOR PARTICIPATION
There will be no compensation provided to students who chose to participate in this study.
CONFIDENTIALITY
Any information that is obtained in connection with this study and that can be identified with you will remain confidential and will be disclosed only with your permission.
Information that is collected as part of the interviews will be known only to the research team. The research team members have agreed to keep this information confidential.
Only members of the research team will have access to the study data.
Individual interviews will be audio recorded via Zoom to ensure that the flavour of these discussions can be captured by the research team. Research participants will have the right to review the audio recording within 30 days of the recording date. They will then be transcribed.
Individual interview participants will also be emailed a copy of the transcriptions. Information from that transcription will be included in the research, once participant approval is achieved. Once the transcription is complete, the audio recording will be terminated.
All study records will be maintained for five years after the study is completed.
Aggregate study findings will be used to inform related academic and professional conference presentations and to enhance the teaching and students' experience of international students at the University of Windsor.
PARTICIPATION AND WITHDRAWAL
Research participants have the right to withdraw from the research study at any time prior to the data verification analysis stage. The data verification analysis stage in case of individual interviews will be before approval is granted by research participants upon receiving an email copy of the transcribed interview. To withdraw from the study, participants will need to send an email to the research team informing them of the participant’s plan to withdraw from the study.
Participants who withdraw from the study will have their data removed from the study and deleted from the study database.
The research team reserves the right to terminate a participant’s involvement in the study if s/he engages in activities inconsistent with the University of Windsor Student Code of Conduct.
FEEDBACK OF THE RESULTS OF THIS STUDY TO THE PARTICIPANTS
Survey Findings will be placed online at the conclusion of the study.
Web address: https://www.uwindsor.ca/people/csmith/394/results
Date when results are available: September 2020.
SUBSEQUENT USE OF DATA
These data may be used in subsequent studies, in publications, and in presentations.
RIGHTS OF RESEARCH PARTICIPANTS
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