Inform Consent Form
TITLE OF RESEARCH STUDY: Coaching Athletes with Hidden Disabilities: A Pilot Study for a Coaching Education Module to Enhance Efficacy
RESEARCH TEAM: Nicole Robertson, Sport & Performance Psychology Doctoral Program (nrobertson@students.uws.edu). This is a dissertation under the supervision of Dr. Chris Stanley (cstanley1@uws.edu).
You are being asked to participate in a research study. Taking part in this study is voluntary. The investigators will explain the study to you and will answer any questions you might have. It is your choice whether you take part in this study or not. If you agree to participate and then choose to withdraw from the study, that is your right, and your decision will not be held against you.
This research study is about the effects of an e-Learning module on abilities and confidence in coaching athletes with hidden disabilities (i.e., specific learning disabilities, ADHD, Autism). Your participation in this research study involves filling out some surveys related to primary study variables, viewing the e-Learning module, and then answering some survey items afterwards. Two weeks post module, you will be contacted again for a last round of surveys. More details will be provided in the next section.
You might want to participate in this study if you want to expand your coaching skill set and you would like to help develop subsequent versions of the module for future dissemination. However, you might not want to participate in this study if you do not think you will have the time to view the module in its entirety.
You may choose to participate in this research study if you currently coach any sport, have been working as a coach for at least one year, are 18 years or older, and are proficient in the English language.
The reasonable foreseeable risks or discomforts to you if you choose to take part is potential discomfort in answering survey items and/or viewing the module, which you can compare to the possible benefit of enhanced knowledge and efficacy with athletes with hidden disabilities. You will not receive compensation for participation.
DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT THIS RESEARCH STUDY: The following is more detailed information about this study, in addition to the information listed above.
PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: The purpose of this study is to create and test an educational program for coaches to benefit their coaching environment and athletes. A core research question relates to whether a coaching education module may enhance coaches’ knowledge of hidden disabilities (i.e., symptoms and impact upon sport performance) and relevant coaching skills and strategies aimed at enhancing participation and performance.
TIME COMMITMENT: Participation in this study is expected to total 1 hour and 45 minutes. However, this is broken up into phases, including pre-test surveys (± 5 minutes 5 minutes) + module (± 90 minutes) + post-test surveys (± 10 minutes) + two-week follow-up (± 10 minutes).
STUDY PROCEDURES: This study is entirely online. First, participants will fill out demographic form and an efficacy scale. Then, participants will view the online coaching module about coaching individuals with hidden disabilities, covering elements related to behavioral expectations, environmental considerations, progress evaluation, and communication with family members. After each unit in the module, there is a brief content quiz. Participants will be able to save their module progress and continue later. However, once they begin, they need to complete it within 72 hours. Immediately after the module, participants will again fill out the efficacy scale, as well as open-ended questions related to general impressions, content, applications, and challenges. The efficacy scale will be used pre- and post-module to verify if coaches report changes in their perceived knowledge and efficacy with coaching individuals with HDCs. The post-tests will occur twice: immediately upon finishing the module and then two weeks thereafter. The latter post-test is used to verify continued perceived efficacy.
After completion of the module and post-test, participants will be prompted to respond to some open-ended questions related to general impressions, content, applications, and challenges. Two-weeks post module, participants will again be contacted electronically to answer open-ended questions. These questions are related to the way(s) in which they may have made applications of content material, challenges, and remaining areas of professional development.
POSSIBLE BENEFITS: Possible benefits of participation include expanding your coaching skill set and helping develop subsequent versions of the module for future dissemination
POSSIBLE RISKS/DISCOMFORTS: Participating in research may involve a loss of privacy and the potential for a breach in confidentiality. Study data will be physically and electronically secured by the research team. As with any use of electronic means to store data, there is a risk of breach of data security. This research study is not expected to pose any additional risks beyond what you would normally experience in your regular everyday life. However, if you do experience any discomfort (e.g., survey item(s), module content), please inform the research team. Remember that you have the right to withdraw from any study procedures at any time without penalty and may do so by informing the research team.
COMPENSATION: Participants will be entered into a raffle for one of two $50 Visa gift cards.
CONFIDENTIALITY: Participation in this online survey involves the potential for the loss of confidentiality similar to a person’s everyday use of the internet. The results of this study may be published and/or presented without naming you as a participant. The data collected about you for this study may be used for future research studies that are not described in this consent form. If that occurs, an IRB will first evaluate the use of any information that is identifiable to you, and confidentiality protection would be maintained.
While absolute confidentiality cannot be guaranteed, the research team will make every effort to protect the confidentiality of your records, as described here and to the extent permitted by law. In addition to the research team, the following entities may have access to your records, but only on a need-to-know basis: the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the FDA (federal regulating agencies), the reviewing IRB, and sponsors of the study.
CONTACT INFORMATION FOR QUESTIONS ABOUT THE STUDY:
If you have any questions about the study you may contact Nicole Robertson (nrobertson@students.uws.edu) or Chris Stanley (cstanley1@uws.edu).
If you have technical issues with getting access to the module contact Nicole Robertson (nrobertson@students.uws.edu).
If you have questions regarding your rights as a research participant, contact the University of Western States IRB at IRB-UWS@uws.edu or (971) 449-9213.
In the form provided on this page, you will need to fill out your information to be invited to the program. Then, you will be ask if you consent or do not consent to participate in the survey. If you consent to the program, you will receive an email inviting you to the program.