Consent Form

THE SPARK BIRD PROJECT

CONSENT FORM

This consent form explains the research study. Please read it carefully. Contact Dr. Jennifer Lodi-Smith at lodismij@canisius.edu with questions about anything you do not understand. If you do not have questions now, you may always ask later.

PURPOSE: You are being invited to participate in a study about spark birds. A spark bird is a term used by the birding community for the bird or birds that hook someone into their passion for birding. Many birders know and talk about their spark birds and even the spark birds of famous birders. Numerous websites define the term spark bird. But there is no scholarship on spark birds. While we are doing a great job of understanding birds, we know very little about birders themselves and thus are missing understanding an important factor in the ecology of birds. This project leverages the tools of psychological science to study spark bird stories. The sharing of spark bird experiences affords an opportunity to ask other important questions about birding from benefits to barriers. In doing so, this project aims to help better understand who birders are and who potential birders may be - insights which can help shape how organizations engage with birders to the potential benefit of birders, the birding community, and the birds. This project will also help birders better understand each other as it aims to share these stories with the public.

PROCEDURES: In this study, you will be asked to share your spark bird story. You will also have the opportunity to engage with additional questions as you choose and at your preferred pacing. You can provide additional spark bird stories, provide a spark bird story on behalf of or in memory of someone else, share other important birding memories. You can share your favorite birding resources as well as barriers you have encountered. You can give your thoughts on the most important issues and opportunities facing the birding community. You can also help us understand the psychological benefits of birding by completing a series of questionnaires covering a variety of topics such as health and happiness, personality traits, and self-concept. As this study only involves group level analyses, we cannot provide you with individualized feedback on your responses to any of the questionnaires or performance on any of the tasks. However, many of the questionnaires are in the public record and details of the project including measures used are openly available at www.spark-bird.org.

TIME COMMITMENT: The timing will depend on your preferred pacing and the questions you choose to answer. You could spend as little as 5 minutes or as much as a couple of hours answering questions from The Spark Bird Project. You do not have to complete the questions in one sitting. You can save your work, leave the portal, and return to where you left off at any point.

RISKS AND BENEFITS: A potential risk is associated with the unlikely event that data could be lost or stolen. In order to reduce the potential negative effects of such an event, your electronic data will be stored on secure servers hosted at Canisius University. You may even benefit from writing about your birding experiences as autobiographical writing is a great way to build meaning in our lives. In addition, knowledge gained from this research will benefit birders, the birding community, and the birds!

Participants who provide their contact information and a valid spark bird narrative will be entered into a raffle for $100 to be donated to the birding organization of their choice.

CONFIDENTIALITY: This consent form will be will be stored on secure servers hosted at Canisius Univeristy. You may choose to complete this study anonymously. If you choose to provide contact information, all identifying information will be stored digitally in files separate from all other data. Only the project director and trained research assistants will have the access and ability to access participant contact information. Throughout the survey, you will decide whether you would like to share a response publically across a variety of platforms and, if so, if you would prefer that to remain anonymous or if you would prefer to have your name linked to your response.

Except where you ask to have your name associated with your story in public contexts, individual privacy will be maintained in all published and written data resulting from this research project. Study results will not involve the reporting of any personally identifying information about individual participants without your prior approval and consent. All data will be retained for a minimum of 3 years after collection.

STUDY OVERSIGHT AND INSPECTION OF RECORDS: In order to monitor this research study, representatives from the Canisius University Institutional Review Board may inspect the research records to assure compliance with appropriate standards. This process may reveal your identity to those performing the inspection.

VOLUNTARY PARTICIPATION: Your participation is completely voluntary. Your refusal to participate in the study will involve no penalty or loss of benefits to which you are otherwise entitled. You have the right to refuse to answer particular questions for any reason during the study. You also have the right to remove yourself from participation in the study at any time.

If you have any questions about your rights as a participant in this research project or questions, concerns, or complaints about the research and wish to speak with someone who is not a member of the research team, you should contact (anonymously, if you wish) the Institutional Review Board at Canisius University (KC 211, Canisius University, 2001 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14208, e-mail mdolan@canisius.edu, phone 716/888-8468).

FOR QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, OR COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS RESEARCH, CONTACT:

Jennifer Lodi-Smith, Ph.D.
Professor of Psychology
Canisius University
716-888-2513, lodismij@canisius.edu

SUBJECT STATEMENT: I have read the explanation provided to me. I have had all my questions answered to my satisfaction, and I voluntarily give my permission to participate in this study. BY CHECKING THE BOX BELOW, I AFFIRM THAT I AM WILLING TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS RESEARCH.

IF YOU DO NOT WISH TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS RESEARCH STUDY, PLEASE SIMPLY SELECT "NO" TO THE QUESTION "Would you be willing for your spark bird story to be used as part of The Spark Bird Project research study?".

IF YOU WOULD LIKE  A COPY OF THIS FORM FOR YOUR RECORDS, YOU CAN PRINT IT NOW. YOU MAY ALSO CONTACT THE PROJECT DIRECTOR AT ANY TIME.

THE SPARK BIRD PROJECT

CONSENT FORM

TO BE COMPLETED BY THE PARENT AND MINOR

This consent form explains the research study. Please read it carefully. Contact Dr. Jennifer Lodi-Smith at lodismij@canisius.edu with questions about anything you do not understand. If you do not have questions now, you may always ask later.

PURPOSE: You are being invited to participate in a study about spark birds. A spark bird is a term used by the birding community for the bird or birds that hook someone into their passion for birding. Many birders know and talk about their spark birds and even the spark birds of famous birders. Numerous websites define the term spark bird. But there is no scholarship on spark birds. While we are doing a great job of understanding birds, we know very little about birders themselves and thus are missing understanding an important factor in the ecology of birds. This project leverages the tools of psychological science to study spark bird stories. The sharing of spark bird experiences affords an opportunity to ask other important questions about birding from benefits to barriers. In doing so, this project aims to help better understand who birders are and who potential birders may be - insights which can help shape how organizations engage with birders to the potential benefit of birders, the birding community, and the birds. This project will also help birders better understand each other as it aims to share these stories with the public.

PROCEDURES: In this study, you will be asked to share your spark bird story. You will also have the opportunity to engage with additional questions as you choose and at your preferred pacing. You can provide additional spark bird stories, provide a spark bird story on behalf of or in memory of someone else, share other important birding memories. You can share your favorite birding resources as well as barriers you have encountered. You can give your thoughts on the most important issues and opportunities facing the birding community. You can also help us understand the psychological benefits of birding by completing a series of questionnaires covering a variety of topics such as health and happiness, personality traits, and self-concept. As this study only involves group level analyses, we cannot provide you with individualized feedback on your responses to any of the questionnaires or performance on any of the tasks. However, many of the questionnaires are in the public record and details of the project including measures used are openly available at www.spark-bird.org.

TIME COMMITMENT: The timing will depend on your preferred pacing and the questions you choose to answer. You could spend as little as 5 minutes or as much as a couple of hours answering questions from The Spark Bird Project. You do not have to complete the questions in one sitting. You can save your work, leave the portal, and return to where you left off at any point.

RISKS AND BENEFITS: A potential risk is associated with the unlikely event that data could be lost or stolen. In order to reduce the potential negative effects of such an event, your electronic data will be stored on secure servers hosted at Canisius University. You may even benefit from writing about your birding experiences as autobiographical writing is a great way to build meaning in our lives. In addition, knowledge gained from this research will benefit birders, the birding community, and the birds!

Participants who provide their contact information and a valid spark bird narrative will be entered into a raffle for $100 to be donated to the birding organization of their choice.

CONFIDENTIALITY: This consent form will be will be stored on secure servers hosted at Canisius University. You may choose to complete this study anonymously. If you choose to provide contact information, all identifying information will be stored digitally in files separate from all other data. Only the project director and trained research assistants will have the access and ability to access participant contact information. Throughout the survey, you will decide whether you would like to share a response publically and, if so, if you would prefer that to remain anonymous or if you would prefer to have your name linked to your response.

Except where you ask to have your name associated with your story in public contexts, your individual privacy will be maintained in all published and written data resulting from this research project. Study results will not involve the reporting of any personally identifying information about individual participants without your prior approval and consent. All data will be retained for a minimum of 3 years after collection.

STUDY OVERSIGHT AND INSPECTION OF RECORDS: In order to monitor this research study, representatives from the Canisius University Institutional Review Board may inspect the research records to assure compliance with appropriate standards. This process may reveal your identity to those performing the inspection.

VOLUNTARY PARTICIPATION: Your participation is completely voluntary. Your refusal to participate in the study will involve no penalty or loss of benefits to which you are otherwise entitled. You have the right to refuse to answer particular questions for any reason during the study. You also have the right to remove yourself from participation in the study at any time.

If you have any questions about your rights as a participant in this research project or questions, concerns, or complaints about the research and wish to speak with someone who is not a member of the research team, you should contact (anonymously, if you wish) the Institutional Review Board at Canisius University (KC 211, Canisius University, 2001 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14208, e-mail mdolan@canisius.edu, phone 716/888-8468).

FOR QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, OR COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS RESEARCH, CONTACT:

Jennifer Lodi-Smith, Ph.D.
Professor of Psychology
Canisius University
716-888-2513, lodismij@canisius.edu

SUBJECT STATEMENT: I have read the explanation provided to me. I have had all my questions answered to my satisfaction, and I voluntarily give my permission to participate in this study. BY CHECKING THE BOX BELOW, I AFFIRM THAT I AM WILLING TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS RESEARCH.

IF YOU DO NOT WISH TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS RESEARCH STUDY, PLEASE SIMPLY SELECT "NO" TO THE QUESTION "Would you be willing for your spark bird story to be used as part of The Spark Bird Project research study?".

IF YOU WOULD LIKE  A COPY OF THIS FORM FOR YOUR RECORDS, YOU CAN PRINT IT NOW. YOU MAY ALSO CONTACT THE PROJECT DIRECTOR AT ANY TIME.