ABMC_VisitorUseSurvey_Study Information Sheet_211208

IRB STUDY # 13302

INDIANA UNIVERSITY STUDY INFORMATION SHEET FOR

American Battle Monuments Commission Visitor Use Study

In recent months, the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) has begun a project that would help the Commission better understand the experiences of people who visit ABMC sites, as well as the motivations, satisfaction level, and other factors associated with their visit. In particular, the Commission is seeking to better understand the visitor experience at Aisne-Marne American Cemetery, Château-Thierry American Monument, Luxembourg American Cemetery, Manila American Cemetery, Netherlands American Cemetery, Normandy American Cemetery, Pointe du Hoc Ranger Monument, Sicily-Rome American Cemetery, and Suresnes American Cemetery.

This information sheet serves to provide you additional information about this study and allow you to ask any questions you may have before agreeing to be in the study. The Eppley Institute for Parks and Public Lands is conducting this research on behalf of the American Battle Monuments Commission. The study is being conducted by Principal Investigator (PI) Stephen A. Wolter, Executive Director of the Eppley Institute for Parks and Public Lands at Indiana University, USA and co-PI Dr. Kristina R. Anderson, Project Manager, Research & Evaluation of the Eppley Institute for Parks and Public Lands at Indiana University.

STUDY PURPOSE

The purpose of this study is to develop a common set of core trail competencies that will help promote professionalism and a higher level of skill for those working in trails. A common set of core trail competencies will help promote professionalism and a higher level of skill for those working in trails through shared language around trail skills and expertise. This will, in turn, create opportunities to align, integrate and coordinate trail trainings nationwide; communicate needs for technical trail expertise; and increase the overall skill level of the trail workforce.

PROCEDURES FOR THE STUDY:

Participants must be at least 18 years old to participate in this study. If you agree to be in the study, you will be asked to complete the online survey once. The survey should take approximately 8-10 minutes to complete.

VOLUNTARY NATURE OF STUDY

Taking part in this study is voluntary. You may choose not to take part or may leave the study at any time. Leaving the study will not result in any penalty or loss of benefits to which you are entitled. Your decision whether to participate in this study will not affect your current or future relations with the Eppley Institute for Parks and Public Lands, Indiana University or the American Battle Monuments Commission.

CONFIDENTIALITY

The survey collects no identifiable information (i.e.., neither name nor email address will be collected); this means that the identities of individuals who ultimately participate in the survey will not be known to researchers. Any responses to open-ended responses that may include self-reported identifiable information will be de-identified and potentially rephrased (to aide with anonymity) before being shared with anyone outside the research team. All data will be stored on encrypted devices. Published reports of this research will not contain any personally identifiable information. Personal information, however, may be disclosed if required by law.

Organizations that may inspect and/or copy your research records for quality assurance and data analysis include groups such as the study investigators and their research associates, the Indiana University Institutional Review Board or its designees, and (as allowed by law) state or federal agencies, specifically the Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP). Information collected from you for this study may be used for future research studies or shared with other researchers for future research.

Finally, you should only choose to participate if you feel you can do so in a way that protects your safety and privacy. If you choose to participate online (not on site), we recommend that you do so in a place such as your home where others are not sharing a space/room, or in a private space such as an office. If you are participating at an ABMC site, we will provide space for you to respond in private.

BENEFITS

By participating in this study, you will be helping to improve the visitor experience at ABMC sites through providing key feedback.

COST. There is no cost to you for taking part in this research study.

WITHDRAWAL.

If you decide to participate in this study, you can change your mind and decide to leave the study while you take the survey. However, because the survey collects respondent data anonymously, we cannot retroactively delete your response, as there is no way to identify which response is your own.

CONTACTS FOR QUESTIONS OR PROBLEMS

For questions about the study, you may contact the researchers directly; Steve Wolter at [email protected] or Kristina Anderson at [email protected]. For questions about your rights as a research participant or to discuss problems, complaints or concerns about a research study, or to obtain information or offer input, contact the Indiana University Human Research Protection Program at + 1(812) 856-4242 or + 1(800) 696-2949 or [email protected].

3 - v. Dec. 8, 2021