NIST, ITL, Youth Password Survey - Supporting Statement

Informed Consent Form

Project Title: Youth Password Survey

NIST Principal Investigators:

Principal Investigator: Mary Theofanos, Phone: 301-975-5889

Co-Investigator: Yee-Yin Choong, Phone: 301-075-3248

Research Description

The purpose of this study is to examine youth password practices. The research goal is to understand youth practices, perceptions, and knowledge regarding passwords. The ultimate goal is the development of useful guidance to help youth understand best practices for passwords. The research is funded and conducted by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

Requirements for Participation

Your child’s school and class has been asked to participate in a survey on youth password practices. Participants/students will be youth between 3^rd and 12^th grades. Students from three to nine different school districts will be asked to participate. We anticipate up to 1800 students participating.

Study Procedures

For the 3^rd to 5^th graders, once a student receives parental consent to participate, he/she will receive a survey with 15 questions about password practices, followed by 5 demographic questions. A teacher will read each question to the students for them to answer. This process will take at most 30 minutes.

For the 6^th to 12^th graders, once a student receives parental consent to participate, he/she will receive a survey with 16 questions about password practices, followed by 5 demographic questions. This process will take at most 15 minutes.

Confidentiality

Your child will be assigned a participant number that will be used for all data in this project. Your child’s identity will be protected to the extent permitted by law, including the Freedom of Information Act. The Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, appropriate NIST researchers, and other appropriate Federal employees may review the records of this study. The study data will be used only by NIST researchers to develop useful guidance to help youth understand best practices for passwords. All of the data will be recorded without identifiers. The data will only be identified by a number and will not be linked back to an individual in any way. NIST will not keep a list that links the participant number to the child’s name or other identifying information.

Voluntary Participation

Your child’s participation is voluntary. Refusal to participate will involve no penalty or loss of benefits to which he/she is otherwise entitled. Your child is free to withdraw from the survey at any time during the survey without penalty. He/she may decline to answer a survey or demographic question. If he/she withdraws from the survey, the data will not be removed from the study.

Potential Risks and Benefits

The risks during performance of the study activities are minimal and not greater than those ordinarily encountered in daily life or in responding to a routine questionnaire or survey. Your child will not benefit directly by participating in the study. The long-term benefits of this study should be improved digital literacy education.

Contact Information

For questions regarding this study, please contact Mary Theofanos at 301-975-5889, [email protected]. For questions regarding your rights as a human research subject, please contact Anne Andrews, Director, NIST Human Subjects Protection Office, at 301-975-5445, [email protected]. Any research-related injury during the study should be reported to Mary Theofanos (contact information above).

NIST Researcher: Mary Theofanos

Signature of NIST Researcher: ________________________________ Date: _____________

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I have read the above description of this research project – Youth Password Survey.

I give consent for my child, _________________________________________, to participate in the above study.

Parent's Name (print):

Parent's Signature (Date)