Damage Function for Modern and Contemporary Heritage Textiles: a Tool to Aid in the Management of Textile Collections

Informed Consent Form
OMB Control No. 3095-0070. Expires 1/31/2024
We are asking you to participate in this research study as a volunteer. You must be age 18 or older to participate in
the study. The information in this consent form is to help you decide if you want to be in this research study. Please
take your time reading this form and contact the researchers to ask questions if there is anything you do not
understand.
The purpose of this research study is to develop a statistical model that allows for estimating the duration of
modern and contemporary textile heritage objects, considering their values, ways of use and storage conditions.
This study is being conducted by researchers at the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, University
of California, Los Angeles, Federal University of Pelotas and University of Sao Paulo. Funding for this study is being
provided by the Fulbright Association (Fulbright-National Archives Heritage Science Fellowship) and the Brazilian
Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES).
If you agree to be in this study, you will complete a survey. The survey includes questions about values, ways of use
and expectations regarding the conservation and duration of textile heritage objects, and should take you about 10
to 15 minutes to complete. You will be asked to answer the survey questions using an object to which you have
access as a reference. You can skip questions that you do not want to answer.
Being in this study is up to you. You can stop up until you submit the survey. After you submit the survey, we cannot
remove your responses because we will not know which responses came from you.
We do not know of any risks to you from being in the study that are greater than the risks you encounter in
everyday life. We do not expect you to benefit from being in this study. You will not be paid for being in this study.
Your participation may help us improve the management and preservation of textile heritage objects and
collections at this and other heritage institutions. We hope the knowledge gained from this study will benefit others
in the future.
The survey is anonymous, and no one will be able to link your responses back to you. Your responses to the survey
will be coded and anonymized, and will not be linked to you in any way. Information collected for this study will be
published and possibly presented at scientific meetings.
If you have questions or concerns about this study, or have experienced a research related problem, please contact
Lais Feltrin Sidou at lais.sidou@ufpel.edu.br.
I have read this form, been given the chance to ask questions and have my questions answered. If I have more
questions, I have been told who to contact. By completing and returning the survey, I understand that I am
agreeing to be in this study. I can keep a copy of this consent information for future reference. If I do not want to
be in this study, I do not need to do anything else.

Access
Thank you for your interest in contributing with this project!
In order to participate, you must select one object from those to which you have
access at the institution you are currently in, and use it as a reference in answering
the survey questions. The selected object must meet all the following criteria:
Have originated in the 20th or 21st centuries;
Be a clothing object (civilian or military attire, costumes, and/or accessories
such as gloves, stockings, hats, etc. Shoes and fur/leather are out of the scope of
this project);
Have textile materials as its major component (any kind of fabric, yarn or
threads composed of any textile fiber; hand or industrially produced).
Please, answer the following questions considering your personal opinions and
experience with the reference object.
1. You are a/an...
Professional at a heritage institution of any kind
Cultural heritage researcher
Academic researcher in a different field of study
Visitor/general public

2. Where are you answering this survey?
Name of institution or exhibition. This information will not be used to identify you in
any way.

3. Where is the institution located? (City, State)

Object characteristics, significance and values
4. Briefly describe your reference object.
Include details such as type of object, date (if available), color, materials and/or other aspects
that you find relevant.

5. Rate each sentence on a scale of 1 (one) to 5 (five), 1 being = Strongly Disagree, 2
= Disagree, 3 = Neither agree nor disagree, 4 = Agree, 5 = Strongly Agree:
The reference object is important because (of)...

1
its shape, color,
texture, sheen,
pattern
and/or other visual
aspects
its apparent
condition
it is an old or ancient
object
it can be understood
as a work of art
it was created,
belonged to, or was
worn by a famous or
historically relevant
individual
its original creation
or use context, or its
present heritage
context
it is or can be used
in educational
activities
it is representative
of a specific era or
social group from
the past
it represents the
identity of a specific
group or a national
identity and values
it is a potential
source of
information

2

3

4

5

Don't
Know/Can't
Anaswer

its actual or
perceived monetary
value
it is a new object
the way it was
produced and/or the
materials that
compose it
it is a resource for
academic research
it holds sentimental
value for me or
someone close to me
the way it was used
before being part of
a heritage collection
it is an original
object (it is not a
replica)
it as a unique and/or
rare object

Ways of use and future perspectives
6. In what way(s) is it possible to interact with this object in this institution?
Check all that apply
In-person exhibitions
Online exhibitions
Educational activities
Academic research
As inspiration for making replicas or other objects
Other (please specify):

7. When thinking of future generations going to museums and other heritage
institutions to use/interact with objects like this (modern and contemporary textiles)
and their collections, how far in the future do you imagine this activity happening?
Please select only one answer
Up to 100 years
100–200 years
200–500 years
500–1000 years
Over 1000 years
Forever

8. How long in the future would you like your reference object to be available to be
used in...
Please select only one answer for each row

Up to 100
years
In-person
exhibitions
Online exhibitions
Educational
activities
Academic research
As inspiration for
making replicas or
other objects

100–200
years

200–500
years

500–1000 Over 1000
years
years

Forever

Not
applicable/Object
is not used in
this way

9. How long in the future would you like the collection which the reference object is
a part of to be available to be used in...
Please select only one answer for each row

Up to 100
years

100–200
years

200–500
years

500–1000 Over 1000
years
years

Forever

Not
applicable/Object
is not used in
this way

In-person
exhibitions
Online exhibitions
Educational
activities
Academic research
As inspiration for
making replicas or
other objects

10. How would you define the “end of life” for this object? What would need to
happen for the object to reach this state?

Condition and physical characteristics of the object
11. In your opinion, what is the condition of this object?
Please select only one answer
Very Good
Good
Fair
Poor
Very Poor

12. In your opinion, which of the following define an object in poor or very poor
condition?
Check all that apply
Stains
Tears
Unstitched areas
Missing object parts
Fabric thinning
Loose material (detached from the object)
Fabric stretching or creasing
Loose threads
None of the above
Other (please specify):

13. Considering the significance/values of your reference object, check which way of
use would become impossible or very difficult, in your opinion, if any of the following
happens:
Check all that apply for each row

In-person
exhibitions
Stains
Tears
Unstitched areas
Missing object parts
Fabric thinning
Loose material
(detached from the
object)
Fabric stretching or
creasing
Loose threads

Online
exhibitions

Educational
activities

Academic
research

As
inspiration
for making
replicas or
other objects

None

Demographics
14. How old are you?

15. What is your gender?
Please select only one answer
Female
Male
Non-binary or third gender
Other (please specify):

16. What is your race?
Please select only one answer
White
Black or African American
American Indian and Alaska Native
Asian
Hispanic or Latino
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander
Multiracial
Other (please specify):

17. What is your educational attainment level?
Please select only one answer
Less than high school diploma or equivalent
High school graduate or equivalent
Some college but no degree
Associate’s degree
Bachelor’s degree
Advanced degree (master’s, professional or doctoral
degree)

18. What is your profession?

19. What is your current place of residence (City, State)?

20. How many times a year, on average, do you visit museums or exhibitions?

Closing remarks
21. Is there anything you would like to add?
Optional

22. If you would like to receive communications with the results of this research
project, please leave your email address below:
Optional

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OMB Control No. 3095-0070. Expires 1/31/2024