Interview Consent Form
Project Title: Test Optional Admission Policies in the Time of COVID-19
Purpose of the Study
This research is being conducted by Dr. Julie Park and Dr. OiYan Poon at the University of Maryland, College Park (UMD) and funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. You are invited to participate in this research project because you are either:
A current director or dean in college admission or equivalent working at a selective public or private nonprofit, four-year institution with admission rates at 50% or lower and have at least 4 years of professional full-time experience in college admissions.
A former college admission professional who worked during the COVID-19 pandemic (2019-2022) at a selective public or private nonprofit four-year institution with admission rates of 50% or lower and have at least 4 years of professional full-time experience in college admissions.
The purpose of this research project is to ask senior admissions leaders about how their institution designs and makes decisions about admission policies and practices since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Your responses will be used as part of a research study to examine the relationship between college entrance testing policies and admissions and enrollment outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
Procedures
We will conduct 10 interviews with senior admission leaders to provide deeper insights about the complexities related to policy changes and implementation in practice as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The interview will consist of answering 6-8 questions, and the interview should last approximately an hour to 90 minutes. All interviews will be video recorded for the purpose of transcription. Video recordings will be archived in a password protected computer for 6 months after transcription, after which they will be destroyed.
Potential Risks and Discomforts
We anticipate minimal risks from participating in this study. Some questions may ask about your thoughts on your institution’s decisions regarding admission policies since the COVID-19 pandemic. These questions may elicit sensitive emotions. You can choose to stop the interview at any time or skip questions as necessary.
There is a risk of loss of confidentiality of your information that is used in this study. Any potential loss of confidentiality will be minimized by storing data in a password protected computer using UMD Google Drive. Only members of the research team will have access to data.
Potential Benefits
There are no direct benefits from participating in this research. However, you may benefit from contributing to research that explores the impact of test optional policies and their changes on college access as well as the development of a public tracking tool that would provide prospective college students, their families, and high school counselors with updated information on application requirements and testing policies.
Confidentiality
There is a risk of loss of confidentiality of your information that is used in this study. Any potential loss of confidentiality will be minimized by storing data in a password protected computer using UMD Box. Only members of the research team will have access to data.
No names or identifying information will be included in the report or publication of findings. You will be referred to as “Participant #” or “Interviewer #”. We will create an identification key that links participants names to their codes, and the key will be only accessible to the members of the research team using UMD Google Drive. The key will be deleted 6 months after completion of this project.
If we write a report or article about this research project, your identity will be protected to the maximum extent possible. Your information may be shared with representatives of the University of Maryland, College Park or governmental authorities if you or someone else is in danger or if we are required to do so by law.
Interview transcripts will be held until 10 years after any publications from the project have passed. Any recordings (audio or video) will be deleted 6 months after transcription.
Compensation
You will receive a $50 virtual gift card from Tango via email for your participation in an interview. Your contact information and interview data will be stored separately using an identification key and personally identifiable information will not be published or presented publicly. You may choose not to take part at all. If you decide to participate in this research, you may stop participating at any time.
Right to Withdraw and Questions
Interview participants will receive a $50 virtual gift card, regardless of whether they leave the study early. Your participation in this study is completely voluntary. You may choose not to take part at all. If you decide to participate in this research, you may stop participating at any time.
If you decide to stop taking part in the study, if you have questions, concerns, or complaints, or if you need to report an injury related to the research, please contact the investigator:
Dr. Julie Park & Dr. OiYan Poon
3214-B Benjamin Bldg
cafcolab@umd.edu
Participant Rights
If you have questions about your rights as a research participant or wish to report a research-related injury, please contact:
University of Maryland College Park
Institutional Review Board Office
1204 Marie Mount Hall
College Park, Maryland, 20742
E-mail: irb@umd.edu
Telephone: 301-405-0678
For more information regarding participant rights, please visit:
This research has been reviewed according to the University of Maryland, College Park IRB procedures for research involving human subjects.
Statement of Consent
Your consent indicates that you are at least 18 years of age; you have read this consent form or have had it read to you; your questions have been answered to your satisfaction and you voluntarily agree to participate in this research study.
If you agree to participate, please state that you consent to participate in this interview.