Consent Form

Consent to be Tape-recorded during Interviews OR Observed in Classroom

You have been asked to participate in a class-research project. The researcher has explained the

project to you. You understand that the researchers plans to audio-tape each interview or observe

you for one class period. The observations will not be audio-taped. Neither your name nor any

other identifying information will be associated with the audiotape or the transcript. If you have

any questions about what you were informed that you can contact Felicity Crawford

fcrawford@wheelock.edu.

What this project is about:

Literacy rates in the United States are not as high as expected. There is a growing use of

technology and math in classrooms. Barbados has one of the highest literacy rates in the word.

Using an ethnographic approach the purpose of this qualitative descriptive study is to understand

what teaching methods of early literacy are being used in Barbados? Also, can these methods be

used in the United States

How you will participate:

The researcher will observe and/or interview in these observations the researcher will watch how

early literacy is taught in your classroom. In the interviews the researcher will ask you questions

about how and what you planned for the lesson and about what you thought about each lesson.

Confidentiality:

You understand that none of the information will identify you by name or by school. Only the

researcher will listen to the tapes. You understand, too, that the tapes will be transcribed by the

investigator and erased once the study is complete. Transcriptions of each interview may be
reproduced in whole or in part for use in presentations or written products that result from this

study. Neither your name nor any other identifying information (such as your voice) will be used

in presentations or in written products resulting from this study.

Voluntary Participation:

The decision to participate in the interviews, to have each interview tape-recorded and

transcribed, and to be observed once per week for three months is voluntary, which means that

you can stop when, or if, you choose.

How will I benefit?

Upon completion of study you will receive a report and an offer for any assistance in your

classroom during the time the researcher is there.

Risk and Complaints:

If you are not satisfied with the way your interviews were conducted or how the information was

used, you can tell Felicity Crawford by emailing or calling her at the above contact information.

You can also call or write the Institutional Review Board (IRB) at: Office of Research and

Sponsored Programs, Quinn Administration Building -2-015, University of Massachusetts

Boston, 100 Morrissey Boulevard, Boston, MA 02125-3393; 617-287-5370. You understand that

the Institution Review Board (IRB) is there to make sure that people who participate in research

projects, as you have been asked, are not harmed or hurt by the research.
 Please check one from each section

______ I consent to have my interview taped.

______ I do not consent to have my interview taped.

______ I consent to be observed during the week while I teach.

______ I do not consent to be observed.

The above permissions are in effect until May 10, 2016. On or before that date the

tapes will be destroyed.

Participants Signature_____________________________________Date:__________________

I hereby agree to abide by the participants above instructions.

Investigators Signature___________________________Date___________________