Preparing a Qualitative Methods Research Plan

Participant Information Sheet: Trauma Center Stakeholders Survey Questionnaires, Document Review

Effectiveness of Emergency Management and Disaster Readiness of Trauma Centers in Washington, DC

Hospital Trauma Staff Administration

My name is and I am currently undertaking a graduate degree in the School of Public Service Leadership at the Capella University of, under the supervision of I am writing to request the participation in my research study on the implementation of emergency management and disaster readiness of trauma centers in the Washington, DC metropolitan area and Washington County.

I want to learn more about the experiences and perceptions of stakeholders who are engaged in the work of trauma centers in Washington, DC. The purpose of my study is to add to the literature on the efficacy of trauma center models currently implemented at your facility. The proposed research may inform disaster preparedness and emergency management policy and practice in the U.S.

The qualitative research is designed to be conducted on site and will include surveying through the use of questionnaire and document review. Survey participants would include trauma center staff and emergency medical technicians. All survey responses are provided anonymously and associated with an identification number only, in case there is a need to recall a survey response.

For any inquiries regarding ethical concerns please contact: The Chair, Capella University Human Participants Ethics Committee, Office of the Vice Chancellor, Tel

APPROVED BY CAPELLA UNIVERSITY HUMAN PARTICIPANTS

ETHICS COMMITTEE on for a period of 3 years from to Reference

3

Appendix A 2

CONSENT TO PARTICIPATE IN RESEARCH: PRINCIPAL/BOARD

OF TRUSTEES

Performance observation, questionnaire, focus group interview

(This consent form will be held for a period of six years)

Breaking the mould? Boys in secondary school choirs.

I have been given and have understood an explanation of this research project. I have had an opportunity to ask questions and have them answered.

I agree that if participants give their consent:

Choir performances may be observed and marked on two occasions.

Choir students may fill out questionnaires after both performances and that once the questionnaires have been filled out and collected, no information can be withdrawn. Choir students may participate in a focus group, if invited.

The focus group may be audio recorded and transcribed by the researcher with the understanding that the audio recorder can be turned off at any time, and that whilst a participant may leave the focus group at any time, information cannot be withdrawn.

I understand that the researcher will do everything possible to ensure confidentiality in the focus group interviews, but that this cannot be entirely guaranteed.

I give my assurance that the participation/non participation of teachers, parents and students of the school will not affect their relationship with the school in any way.

I understand that the names of the school, Choir Director or students will not be identifiable in any written or oral presentation. I understand that the school's privacy, and that of my students will be respected. I understand that the findings will be used for publication and conference presentations.

I agree to participate in the research. Signed:

School:

APPROVED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF HUMAN PARTICIPANTS

ETHICS COMMITTEE on for a period of three years from to Reference

Appendix B 1

PARTICIPANT INFORMATION SHEET: PRINCIPAL/BOARD OF

TRUSTEES

Questionnaire.

Beliefs and expectations about gender-role and about gender-role conformity: Boys in choirs in secondary schools.

To: The Principal/Board of Trustees

My name is and I am currently undertaking a PhD in Educational Psychology, at the University of, under the supervision of I am writing to ask if you might grant me permission to invite your choir director, choristers, and a sample of students and teachers at your school to answer a questionnaire which addresses the topic stated above. The questionnaire is attached, and is a confidential document for your information only.

In a previous study for my PhD I investigated whether boys had a different experience of singing in choirs to girls. In this final study I want to find out if beliefs and expectations about gender role and gender-role conformity are related to the experience of being a boy in a choir.

With your permission, I would like to invite your choir director, your choristers (either boys and/or girls), a sample of 20 teachers on your staff, and one class from each year level at your school, to fill out an anonymous questionnaire. The questionnaire would be completed in 15 minutes, in a quiet classroom or workroom, at a time which would not impinge on teaching and learning, e.g. form period, rehearsal break, or interval.

Once these questionnaires have been collected they cannot be withdrawn as I will be unable to identify who has filled in each questionnaire.

If you agree, I would like to issue Participant Information Sheets to all proposed participants informing them of the study and inviting them to participate. The parents and guardians of student and chorister participants would also receive Participant Information Sheets, and the parents and guardians of any student and chorister participants under the age of 16 years would receive a Consent Form as well. This would enable them to decide whether or not to allow their son or daughter to choose if they would like to be involved in the study.

Once the participants were fully informed, and the relevant parental consent forms had been collected, I would invite the participants to complete the questionnaire which I would administer myself. Permission would be sought from the form teachers concerned, to hand out Participant Information Sheets and Consent Forms to their students, and administer the questionnaire within form period. In the case of choristers, the choir director would be asked if the choristers could fill out the questionnaires in a rehearsal break.

The questionnaires and any consent forms will be stored separately and securely for six years in ' office at the campus of The University of, and then destroyed. As well, the anonymity of your school, teaching staff, choir director and students will be preserved and confidentiality is guaranteed.

The participants can only be part of the study if they freely choose to fill out the questionnaire. Those students and choristers who choose not to participate will be issued with a puzzle to do, unless they opt to engage in their own school work, while the questionnaires are being completed by the participants. I seek your assurance that the decision to participate or not by any teacher, choir director, student or parent, will not affect them in any way. The study will generate findings of interest to all those involved with choral music for boys. It will explore explanations as to why boys are reluctant to sing in choirs and investigate barriers which inhibit their choral performance.

The information collected will be analysed and made into a report and you will receive a summary of the main findings. The final report will be submitted for assessment for the degree of PhD from the University of A copy of the thesis will be available for you to read at the University of library. The findings will also be presented in a public seminar to which you and your Choir Director will be invited, and may be used for publication and conference presentations.