Qualitative Research for the Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED)

Attachment 2: Participant Consent Form

INFORMED CONSENT FOR FOCUS GROUP AND
ONE-ON-ONE INTERVIEW PARTICIPATION
The National Science Foundation designs, conducts, and sponsors surveys on science,
engineering, and technology. To produce the best information possible, the National Science
Foundation routinely evaluates its surveys.
You have volunteered to take part in a research study related to one of the National Science
Foundation’s surveys. To have a complete record of your comments, your [focus group/
interview] session will be audiotaped (and/or videotaped). We plan to use the tapes to improve
the survey. Staff directly involved in this research project will have access to the tapes. Selected
quotes from [focus group/interview] participants may be used in papers and presentations to
professional audiences.
[FOR FOCUS GROUP PARTICIPANTS: Although your identity will be known to other
participants in this focus group, the researchers will not identify you by name in any reports or
presentations produced from this research. All focus group participants will be asked to respect
the privacy of the other group members and not to disclose anything said within the context of
the discussion. However, it is important to understand that other people in the group with you
may not keep all information private and confidential.]
This study is authorized by law (42 U.S.C. 1862 Section 3.a.6.). The OMB control number for
this study is 3145-0174.
I have volunteered to participate in this study, and I give permission for my tapes to be used for
the purposes stated above.

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