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Appendix A: Email Request for Participation
Dear Scholar:
Hello. I am Angela McClendon, a graduate student in the School of Information and Library Science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. I am conducting research in support of a master’s paper, “Extending Access to Archival Processing Information.”
This study is an attempt to learn about the attitudes of users of archival materials about gaining access to administrative and background information related to archival
collections (administrative files and information about staff who process the collections). A richer understanding of the research preferences of working scholars will help archives to decide whether or not to provide additional information about collections.
The survey, accessible through a link at the end of this email, asks questions about your experience using archival collections, as well as questions about your interest in gaining access to extended information about archival processing. It is designed to be completed in 10-15 minutes. Participation in this study is completely voluntary and you may choose not to answer any particular question or questions. Any information that you do provide will be kept anonymous.
All research on human volunteers is reviewed by a committee that works to protect your rights and welfare. If you have questions or concerns about your rights as a research subject you may contact, anonymously if you wish, the Institutional Review Board at 919-966-3113 or by email to [email protected].
If you have any concerns, questions, or comments about this survey and the research study it supports, please feel free to contact me (by telephone (919) 929-9686 or email [email protected]) or my academic advisor, Professor Christopher A. Lee at (919) 962-7024 or at [email protected]).
I sincerely hope that you will choose to participate in this study by completing this survey by June 22, 2007. Your contributions will be very valuable to the study. Thank you for your consideration.
Click here to begin survey: [survey URL] Angela McClendon, Graduate Student School of Information and Library Science
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill [email protected] or (919) 929-9686
Appendix B: Follow-up Recruitment Email
Dear Scholar:
Hello. I am writing to follow up on an invitation to participate in a 10-15 minute online survey in support of a UNC School of Library and Information Science master's paper, "Extending Access to Archival Processing Information." If you've already completed the survey, thank you very much for participating. If you have not completed the survey and would like to participate, this link will direct you to the survey: [Survey URL]
The survey asks questions about your experience using archival collections, as well as questions about your interest in gaining access to extended information about archival processing. Participation in this study is completely voluntary and you may choose not to answer any particular question or questions. Any information that you do provide will be kept anonymous.
All research on human volunteers is reviewed by a committee that works to protect your rights and welfare. If you have questions or concerns about your rights as a research subject you may contact, anonymously if you wish, the Institutional Review Board at 919-966-3113 or by email to [email protected].
If you have any concerns, questions, or comments about this survey and the research study it supports, please feel free to contact me (by telephone (919) 929-9686 or email [email protected]) or my academic advisor, Professor Christopher A. Lee at (919) 962-7024 or at [email protected]).
I sincerely hope that you will choose to participate in this study by completing this survey by June 22nd, 2007. Your contributions will be very valuable to the study. Thank you for your consideration.
Angela McClendon, Graduate Student School of Information and Library Science University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill [email protected] or (919) 929-9686
Appendix C: Consent Form
University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill Consent to Participate in a Research Study Adult Participants
Social Behavioral Form
________________________________________________________________________
IRB Study # 07-0988
Consent Form Version Date: May 15, 2007
Title of Study: Extending Access to Archival Processing Information
Principal Investigator: Angela McClendon
UNC-Chapel Hill Department: School of Information and Library Science
UNC-Chapel Hill Phone number: (919) 962-8366
Email Address: [email protected]
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Christopher A. Lee
Funding Source: not funded
Study Contact telephone number: (919) 929-9686
Study Contact email: [email protected]
_________________________________________________________________
What are some general things you should know about research studies?
You are being asked to take part in a research study. To join the study is voluntary. You may refuse to join, or you may withdraw your consent to be in the study, for any reason, without penalty.
Research studies are designed to obtain new knowledge. This new information may help people in the future. You may not receive any direct benefit from being in the research study. There also may be risks to being in research studies.
Details about this study are discussed below. It is important that you understand this information so that you can make an informed choice about being in this research study. It is recommended that you print out a copy of this consent form for your records. You should ask the researchers named above, or staff members who may assist them, any questions you have about this study at any time.
What is the purpose of this study?
The purpose of this research study is to learn about the attitudes of users of archival materials towards the provision of extended administrative background information about archival collections, as well as information about the people who process archival
collections.
You are being asked to be in the study because your field of study often involves the use of archival materials.
Are there any reasons you should not be in this study?
You should not be in this study if you have never used archival materials (unpublished letters, photographs, diaries, deeds, oral histories, legal or financial papers, blueprints, ledgers, original writings, maps, administrative papers, audiovisual recordings, contracts, case studies, survey data, etc.).
How many people will take part in this study?
If you decide to be in this study, you will be one of approximately 150 people in this research study.
How long will your part in this study last?
This survey takes 10-15 minutes to complete. There will be no follow-up.
What will happen if you take part in the study?
You will complete a questionnaire asking you two types of questions: general questions about your experience using archival materials, and specific questions about your level of interest in extended access to information regarding the organizing and describing of archival collections. You may stop participating and exit the survey at any time.
What are the possible benefits from being in this study?
Research is designed to benefit society by gaining new knowledge. You may not benefit personally from being in this research study.
What are the possible risks or discomforts involved from being in this study?
There are no known risks involved from participating in this study.
How will your privacy be protected?
Participants’ survey answers are collected by the online survey tool Qualtrics. You will be identified by a unique number, and your answers will not be connected to your email address or any other identifiable information. The Principal Investigator is the only person with access to this Qualtrics account. The account is on a secure network. After survey data have been analyzed, the Qualtrics account and all data will be deleted.
Will you receive anything for being in this study?
You will not receive anything for taking part in this study.
There will be no costs for being in the study.
What if you are a UNC employee?
Taking part in this research is not a part of your University duties, and refusing will not affect your job. You will not be offered or receive any special job-related consideration if you take part in this research.
What if you have questions about this study?
You have the right to ask, and have answered, any questions you may have about this research. If you have questions, or concerns, you should contact the researchers listed on the first page of this form.
What if you have questions about your rights as a research participant?
All research on human volunteers is reviewed by a committee that works to protect your rights and welfare. If you have questions or concerns about your rights as a research subject you may contact, anonymously if you wish, the Institutional Review Board at 919-966-3113 or by email to [email protected].
- - - Consent will be indicated through selecting a radio button with the text: “I have read the information provided above. I have asked all questions I have at this time. I voluntarily agree to participate in this research study.” The survey will not proceed until consent has been given. Once consent has been given, participants will enter the survey.
Appendix D: Survey
[The first page of the online survey was the study’s consent form. See Appendix C: Consent Form.]
1. How many archives (e.g. university and college special collections, government agencies, historical societies) have you visited?
[ ] 0 [ ] 1-2 [ ] 3-10
[ ] More than 10
[ ] I do not recall, but I have used archival (primary source) materials.
2. How would you rate your understanding of archives and skill level in using archival materials? [ ] Low [ ] Adequate [ ] Competent [ ] Proficient [ ] Expert
3. If you have used primary source materials in conducting any kind of research, please indicate the anticipated outcome of that research (select all that apply):
[ ] Gathering information, but without a final product in mind [ ] Class assignment
[ ] Dissertation or thesis [ ] Book, article, or report [ ] Family history research
[ ] Administrative or work-related task
[ ] Other (Please specify): __________________________________
4. A “finding aid” is a document that describes materials in an archival collection. Finding aids usually consist of several parts, including a biographical or historical sketch,
a description of the scope and contents of a collection, administrative information, restrictions, and a detailed box and folder listing.
How often do you typically consult a finding aid in planning or conducting research with archival materials? [ ] Very frequently [ ] Frequently [ ] Occasionally [ ] Infrequently [ ] Very infrequently [ ] Never
5. The following are examples of information about a collection that most archives keep apart from a collection, sometimes inaccessible to researchers. If these materials were made available to you, how interested would you be in seeing them?
Very Interested
Interested Neutral Uninterested Very Uninterested Notes regarding the acquisition of the
materials
Correspondence between the archives and the donor of materials
Donor agreement
Criteria for selecting materials to include in the collection
Records of discarded materials Records of materials returned to the donor
Records of materials transferred to other repositories
Records of books removed from the collection and kept separately Notes regarding the original physical condition of the materials
Notes regarding the original organization of the materials
Previous requests to see the collection Previous requests for
copying/duplication of items Old versions of the collection’s finding aid
6a. In the process of doing research, have you ever requested to see any of the following materials?
Yes No Not sure
Notes regarding the acquisition of the materials
Correspondence between the archives and the donor of materials
Donor agreement
Criteria for selecting materials to include in the collection
Records of discarded materials
Records of materials returned to the donor Records of materials transferred to other repositories
Records of books removed from the collection and kept separately Notes regarding the original physical condition of the materials
Notes regarding the original organization of the materials
Previous requests to see the collection Previous requests for copying/duplication of items
Old versions of the collection’s finding aid
6b. If you answered YES to any of these items, please indicate which items the archives provided to you.:
6c. Comments:
7. What information about the archivist who organized or wrote the descriptions (e.g., the finding aid) for a collection would you like to have? Select all that apply.
[ ] Name [ ] Position title
[ ] Employment status (e.g., part-time, full-time, intern, volunteer) [ ] Type of degree(s) held, if any
[ ] Political affiliation [ ] Gender
[ ] Other collections that he or she has organized [ ] Other: ________________________
8a. Have you ever requested to speak to the archivist who organized or wrote the descriptions (e.g., the finding aid) for a collection?
[ ] Yes [ ] No [ ] Not Sure
8b. If you answered YES, please describe the nature of your interaction with the archivist.
9. What is your primary field of study? (optional)
[ ] Anthropology [ ] Journalism and Mass Communication
[ ] Classics [ ] Music
[ ] Communication Studies [ ] Political Science
[ ] English [ ] Religious Studies
[ ] Folklore [ ] Sociology
[ ] Geography [ ] I prefer not to answer.
[ ] History [ ] Other: ____________________
10. Please provide any further comments you may have.
[end]
Thank you for your time in taking this survey. Your data has been recorded.