UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO

CONSENT TO ACT AS A RESEARCH SUBJECT

Interoperability Strategies for Cyberinfrastructure: A Comparative Approach

Geoffrey C. Bowker, PhD, Karen Baker, MS, Florence Millerand, PhD and David Ribes, Graduate Student are conducting a research study to understand the interoperability strategies within cyberinfrastructure. You have been asked to take part as a member or participant in one of the subject cyberinfrastructures. There will be approximately 30 participants in this study.

If you agree to participate in this study, we will ask you to participate in one or more of the following ways: you may be interviewed, your participation in a meeting/workshop or your work activities at your site may be observed. The duration of your involvement in the study is limited to the length of the workshop, meeting, or interview session. An interview session may involve 1 to 2 hours of your time. Possible observation at your site will align your everyday work and its length will be negotiated with you individually.

Participation in this study may involve risks or discomforts such as recording of internal conflicts within the cyberinfrastructure project.

Potential risks of confidentiality breach inherent to interview and observation research will be managed through several measures, for instance, only researchers named above will have access to the data gathered, all materials will be stored in a safe place, and no names or other identifying information of study participants will be revealed in any publication. You may call the UCSD Human Research Protection Program at 858.455.5050 to ask about your rights as a research subject or to report research-related problems.

There will be no direct benefit to you from these procedures. However, the investigators may learn more about the long-term development of cyberinfrastructures and the various strategies currently available for establishing and maintaining interoperability.

Karen Baker, Florence Millerand, or David Ribes has explained this study to you and answered your questions. Should you have any questions regarding the research, you may contact Karen Baker (email: and phone: (858) 534 2350).

Participation in research is entirely voluntary. There will be no financial compensation for your participation in this study. You may refuse to participate or withdraw at any time without penalty.

Research records will be kept confidential to the extent allowed by law.

You have received a copy of this consent document to keep and a copy of the Experimental Bill of Rights.

You agree to participate.

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