A sustainable model of support for students with low numeracy
INFORMATION SHEET FOR PARTICIPANTS
Thank you for showing an interest in this project. Please read this information sheet carefully before deciding whether or not to participate. If you decide to participate we thank you. If you decide not to take part there will be no disadvantage to you and we thank you for considering our request.
What is the Aim of the Project?
The aim of this project is to develop a numeracy peer support programme for students taking papers with a quantitative component and to ensure that students have sufficient prerequisite numeracy for those papers.
What Types of Participants are being sought?
We are inviting all students in your paper (and other papers with a quantitative component) to participate.
What will Participants be asked to do?
Should you agree to take part in this project, you will be asked to allow your answers in the University of Otago online numeracy assessment to be used for research purposes. If you gain a high score there is no additional time commitment other than the time it takes to sit the test. If you do not score highly on the test you will be offered a place in our Peer Assisted Numeracy (PAN) tuition sessions. Participation is completely voluntary. There will be a programme of 10 weekly tuition sessions on Fridays during Semesters 1 and 2. You will be asked to sit another test and evaluate the programme at its completion.
Please be aware that you may decide not to take part in the project without any disadvantage to yourself.
What Data or Information will be collected and what use will be made of it?
No personal information about you other than your name will be collected. Information about individuals will not be included in any reports or publications. Only aggregate data on the whole group of students, or anonymous quotes, will be reported.
The results of the project may be published and will be available in the University of Otago Library (Dunedin, New Zealand) but every attempt will be made to preserve your anonymity.
You are most welcome to request a copy of the results of the project should you wish.
The data collected will be securely stored in such a way that only the research team will be able to gain access to it. At the end of the project any personal information will be destroyed immediately except that, as required by the University’s research policy, any raw data on which the results of the project depend will be retained in secure storage for five years, after which it will be destroyed.
In the event that a line of questioning does develop in such a way that you feel hesitant or uncomfortable you are reminded of your right to decline to answer any particular question(s) and also that you may withdraw from the project at any stage without any disadvantage to yourself of any kind.
Can Participants change their mind and withdraw from the project?
You may withdraw from participation in the project at any time and without any disadvantage to yourself of any kind.
What if Participants have any Questions?
If you have any questions about our project, either now or in the future, please feel free to contact either:-
| Prof Boris Baeumer Department of Mathematics and Statistics bbaeumer@maths.otago.ac.nz 479 7763 | Andrea Knowles College of Education andrea.knowles@otago.ac.nz 479 4221 |
This study has been approved by the Department of Mathematics and Statistics. However, if you have any concerns about the ethical conduct of the research you may contact the University of Otago Human Ethics Committee through the Human Ethics Committee Administrator (ph +64 3 479 8256 or email gary.witte@otago.ac.nz). Any issues you raise will be treated in confidence and investigated and you will be informed of the outcome.