Consent for Research

The Instructional Designers’ Field Guide: 

Bridging Theory and Practice for New Instructional Designers

(Below is the exact consent language found at the beginning of the survey.)

You are being asked to participate in a research study conducted by Sara Rose, Graduate Student, and Dr. Miguel Lara, Instructional Science & Technology at California State University, Monterey Bay (CSUMB). Participation in this study is entirely voluntary.  Please read the information below and ask questions about anything you do not understand before deciding whether to participate.  A researcher listed below will be available to answer your questions.

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to explore the early-career experiences of new instructional designers, identifying practical skill gaps and support needs. Findings from the survey will inform the development of a research-based field guide designed to help new professionals bridge the gap between instructional design theory and workplace realities. Your feedback will help us create this professional resource. You are eligible to participate in this study if you are a current or recently graduated student from an instructional design or educational technology program, OR an early career instructional designer (within the first five years of practice), OR a professional who supervises, mentors, or trains new instructional designers. This study will involve approximately 20-30 minutes of your time to complete an anonymous survey. Approximately 30-50 individuals will take part in the study. This research is self-funded by the researcher and is not supported by an external sponsor. 

Procedures

The following procedures will occur:  

• You will be asked to complete an anonymous online survey, which includes a few demographic questions and then open-ended questions about your instructional design background, skill development, and experiences in the early stages of your career. The survey will take approximately 20-30 minutes to complete. 
• No follow-up sessions, interviews, or recordings will take place.
• All procedures are conducted solely for this research and are not part of any standard care or instruction. 
• This study does not collect any personally identifying information, and no individual research results will be disclosed. 

Risks and Discomfort

As in daily life, you might experience minor harms or discomforts from this research, such as reflecting on challenges in your early career that could cause temporary frustration or stress. You may also find open-ended questions about skill gaps or support needs mildly uncomfortable to answer. 

To minimize these risks: 

• You may skip questions at any time. 
• Your responses are anonymous, and no identifiable information will be collected. 
• You may exit the survey at any point without penalty. 
• There are no anticipated physical, legal, or economic risks associated with this study. 

Benefits

There are no direct benefits to you from taking part in this study. However, your participation in this study will help us improve professional development resources for early-career instructional designers by identifying key challenges, skill gaps, and areas where new professionals need support. The findings may contribute to the development of a practical field guide to help others transition more effectively into instructional designer roles. 

Alternatives

An alternative is not to participate in this study. 

Compensation 

You will not be paid for your participation in this research study. However, you may choose to enter an optional raffle for a $50 gift card upon completing the survey. Your decision to enter the raffle is separate from the survey and will not be linked to your response in any way. 

Costs

There is no cost to you for participation in this study. 

Confidentiality 

No identifying information will be collected in this study. The survey is completely anonymous, and your responses will not be linked to your name, email address, IP address, or any other identifying information. 

Survey responses will be stored in a secure, password-protected research account accessible only to the researcher. All data will be stored on CSUMB-approved platforms (Google Workspace) and will be encrypted at rest and in transit. Access will be limited to only named researchers on the approved protocol. 

After this research is concluded:

1. No identifying information will need to be removed, as none will be collected. 

2. De-identified aggregate data may be used in future research, academic presentations, or publications related to instructional design without additional consent. However, no individual responses will be traceable to any person. 

Voluntary Participation

Your participation is voluntary. Refusal to participate will involve no penalty or loss of benefits to which you are otherwise entitled. You may discontinue participation at any time without penalty or loss of those benefits to which you are otherwise entitled. 

Contact Information

If you have any questions about the research, contact Sara Rose, Graduate Student Researcher. Email: sarrose@csumb.edu.

This research has been reviewed by the CSUMB Institutional Review Board (IRB), which is a research review board that reviews and monitors research studies. If you have any questions about research subjects’ rights, or if you need to report a complaint or research-related injury, contact the IRB at irb@csumb.edu, (831) 582-5130.

Subject’s Consent Statement

I understand the procedures described.  My questions have been answered to my satisfaction, and I freely agree to participate in this study.  I know what I will have to do and that I can stop at any time.  I have been given a copy of this Consent Form. 

I have read (or someone has read to me) the information provided above. I have been given a chance to ask questions. You do not need to sign this form to retain anonymity. By indicating below, I am agreeing to take part in this study.

______YES, I agree to participate in the study.