You are being asked to take part in a research study about how transfer writing skills and knowledge from college into the workplace.
What the study is about: The purpose of this study is to learn how individuals in different fields perceive the ways they’ve learned to write in both the academe and the workplace, and the ways in which skills from the former inform the latter. In addition to being used as “data” for research on this transfer of skills, the interviews conducted during this project will also be made publically available here, on the archive, as a disciplinary resource for students, faculty, and other workplace writers.
How will the interviews be used: Interviews collected here will primarily be used within this archive, but may also be used in future publications about this project and its results.
What we will ask you to do: If you agree to participate, you will be asked to talk about your job, the tasks you perform that relate to writing, and how you understand your acquisition of your writing skills. (If you would like to participate, you will be given both technical guidance and a guide of questions.)
Rights: Your participation in this archive collection is entirely voluntary. You may withdraw your consent and discontinue at any time.
Risks and benefits: We do not anticipate any risks to you participating in this study other than those encountered in day-to-day life. There may be no benefits to you personally, but the information we collect will, we hope, benefit future college students and new workplace writers.
Confidentiality: Because of the nature of this project, which involves building an audio archive of interviews with writers in different fields, your answers will not be confidential. You may choose to use only your full name, only your first name, or a pseudonym, but the details of your work or your voice may make it possible for listeners to identify you; therefore, if you are not comfortable with being publically attached to these answers, please do not participate.
Taking part is voluntary: Taking part in this study is completely voluntary, and you are entitled to skip any questions that you are not comfortable answering. You may also decide to cancel and negate your participation at any time during or after the interview. If you submit an interview but then later decide that you would like to withdraw it, you can contact us (contact information below) at any time and we will remove it.
If you have questions: This study is being conducted by Jessica McCaughey (George Washington University) and Brian Fitzpatrick (George Mason University). If you have questions prior to submitting or after, you may contact Professor Fitzpatrick at bfitzpa2@gmu.edu or Professor McCaughey at jessmcc@gwu.edu. You may contact the George Mason University Office of Research Integrity & Assurance at 703-993-4121 and/or the George Washington University Office of Human Research at 202-994-2715 if you have questions or comments regarding your rights as a participant in the research.
Your willingness to participate in this research study is implied if you proceed.
Title of Study: Archive of Workplace Writing Experiences
IRB #: 081638 (GWU)
Principal Investigator Names: Jessica McCaughey and Brian Fitzpatrick
Click here for easy instructions on recording and submitting your experience.