Please read the following consent statement, and complete the form at the bottom of the page.
Based on your answers to a previous survey and confirming eligibility criteria through the screening questions, you are eligible to participate in this pilot study. You are being asked to participate in this research study because you are over the age of 18, live in New York City, identify as having a disability, receive current social security benefits (SSI or SSDI), and own a smartphone with a data plan.
Purpose:
The purpose is to pilot test registration processes for a future large-scale study, to test a training course about transportation resources, and to provide feedback about the registration process and training.
For the complete study (taking place September – October 2019), mobility behavior and survey responses will be compared before and after the training. The goal is to see if there are changes in travel behaviors, awareness of information and resources, or changes in attitudes about transportation because of the training.
Procedures:
Phase 1: If you agree to participate, we will ask you to record your location history in Google Maps and take daily surveys for 1 week (together referred to as the “travel diary.”). As a pilot participant, you will be asked to provide feedback about the clarity of instructions and problems you encounter with the following steps:
- Install Google Maps and the PACO app on your smartphone and log in to both apps with an anonymous email address provided by the researchers.
- Turn on your location history in Google Maps, which will record your travel history, including place types, transportation modes, and time spent traveling. Correct any information that is inaccurate.
- Join an experiment in the PACO app and complete a brief daily survey about your transportation behaviors and experiences for 1 week.
- Complete a brief online survey about the app installation process.
Phase 2: You will also be asked to attend an in-person training feedback session for an online training program.
- Use your smartphone to access an online training course which consists of 4 topic areas (accessible transportation options, navigation tips, financial supports for transportation, and disability rights and transportation).
- Discuss the training with the researchers, including which topics provided new information, and which topics need more information or clarity.
- Complete a brief survey after completing the training.
Time Commitment:
Your participation in this research study is expected to take 3-4 hours over the course of several weeks.
Potential Risks or Discomforts:
There are few potential risks or discomfort associated with this study. Privacy concerns are a related research risk, which is why an email address or phone number are the only forms of personal identifiable information associated with your survey answers. You may have some discomfort or difficulty with using the mobile applications for the study. For help with any technical challenges, you can contact the Principal Investigator by email, [email protected], or by text or phone, 214-454-6298.
Potential Benefits:
You may learn more about your travel behaviors and how travel impacts your moods. The research may improve travel survey methods. Data collected may contribute to knowledge about missing supports and inequalities in transportation and may be used for advocacy purposes in the future. Your input on the training will help develop informational resources to help other people with disabilities use public transportation in New York City.
Payment for Participation:
You will be compensated $100 total for your participation in all phases of the study described above under the “Procedures” and “Time Commitment” sections. You will receive $25 for enrolling in the travel diary and taking a survey about the registration process, and $75 for the in-person training feedback session. You will also be given cash reimbursement for round-trip public transit fare ($5.50) to the research location in midtown Manhattan (365 5th Avenue). Payments will be made by check and delivered in person at the training feedback session. After receiving your consent to participate in the study, the Principal Investigator will request that you submit a form with your full name and mailing address. This information will not be stored with your location data or survey responses and will be used only for providing payments. A check for $100 will be delivered in person after the second study phase, on this approximate timeline:
- Phase 1 (App installation and travel diary): July 22, 2019 – August 2, 2019
- Phase 2 (Attend an in-person training feedback session, complete a post training survey): August 6, August 7, or August 8, 2019
If unforeseen circumstances arise and you are not able to attend one of the in-person training feedback sessions during the second week of August, a check for $25 will be mailed to you for completion of the app installation, travel diary, and app installation survey.
New Information:
You will be notified about any new information regarding this study that may affect your willingness to participate in a timely manner.
Confidentiality:
We will make our best efforts to maintain confidentiality of any information that is collected during this research study, and that can identify you. We will disclose this information only with your permission or as required by law. We will protect your confidentiality by maintaining secure data storage and collecting minimal personally identifiable information. The research team, authorized CUNY staff, and government agencies that oversee this type of research may have access to research data and records in order to monitor the research. Research records provided to authorized, non-CUNY individuals will not contain identifiable information about you. Publications and/or presentations that result from this study will not identify you or contain your identifiable information.
Participants’ Rights:
Your participation in this research study is entirely voluntary. If you decide not to participate, there will be no penalty to you, and you will not lose any benefits to which you are otherwise entitled. You will be compensated for completion of each phase of the study, and you are welcome to end your participation at any time.
Questions, Comments or Concerns:
If you have any questions, comments or concerns about the research, you can talk to one of the following researchers:
Jessica Murray, Doctoral Student Developmental Psychology
Kristen Gillespie-Lynch, Faculty Advisor, Professor Developmental Psychology
If you have questions about your rights as a research participant, or you have comments or concerns that you would like to discuss with someone other than the researchers, please call the CUNY Research Compliance Administrator at 646-664-8918 or email [email protected]. Alternately, you can write to:
CUNY Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research
Attn: Research Compliance Administrator
205 East 42nd Street
New York, NY 10017
Consent of Participant:
