Participant Information Sheetfor Parents / Guardians
[Study Title]
PARTICIPANT INFORMATION SHEETFOR PARENTS / GUARDIANS
Ethics Approval Reference: [Insert]
In partnership with researchers at the University of Oxford, your child’s school has agreed to take part in a study investigating the development of children’s reading skills. We would like to invite your child to be part of this study. We very much hope you would like to take part, but before you decide, it is important that you understand why the study is being done and what it will involve.
What are we trying to find out?<Add background and aims of study, example below>
This project is looking at how children learn to read. We are especially interested in how children’s spoken language skills help them learn to read and write. We already know that children’s awareness of the sounds of their language (for example, their knowledge of nursery rhymes and the sounds of letters) is important when they come to learning to read words. The ultimate goal of reading, however, is not just to read words, but also to understand what has been read. Unfortunately, we know very little about how reading comprehension develops. This project will help us to understand how children learn to comprehend. We hope that our findings will allow us identify methods to identify ways of helping children who find learning to read difficult.
More information about the project is available on our website or can be obtained by contacting the research team (contact details overleaf).
What will happen if my child takes part?
(Insert suitable photo and caption) / A researcher would come to see your child at school on two occasions, a few weeks apart. On both occasions that we see your child we will look at different aspects of reading. For example, reading of words with regular spelling (e.g. cat), reading of ‘strange’ words (e.g. yacht) and reading and understanding text.Children will be seen individually in a quiet area near their classroom. Our activities and games are presented on laptop computers, which children really seem to enjoy playing. Each session lasts about 30-40 minutes.
<Add whetherresearchers would like to audio record / photograph / video the children, and give reasons why this is necessary>
What happens to the results of the study?
Results for each child are kept strictly confidential. Only a code number will be used to identify children, and all information and results are kept in <add secure location, e.g. a locked filing cabinet in the University. Regular summaries of our findings will be given to the school and will be available to interested families.
<Add publication arrangements/plans, e.g. If you agree to participate in this project, the research will be written up as a thesis. On successful submission of the thesis, it will be deposited both in print and online in the University archives, to facilitate its use in future research. The thesis will probably be published with [insert here information on the type of access and what that means, e.g. open or restricted access (or closed or embargoed access on application), open access meaning available to every internet user].”>
We also aim to publish our findings in scientific journals, but this may be two to three years from the end of the study.
Research data (not sensitive/personal data) will be kept securely for a minimum of three years according to University Policy.<Add exact timeframe if funder requires longer storage, see for further information.>
Statement of any benefits or risk
Please populate
Who is conducting this research?
The research project is organized by <insert researcher name> of Oxford University, who is a <insert status>. The research is funded by the <insert relevant funders’ name>. This study has received ethics clearance through the University of Oxford’s Central University Research Ethics Committee, [insert CUREC reference number>.
What if there is a problem?
If you have a concern about any aspect of this project, please speak to the relevant researcher ([insert tel. no.]) [or their supervisor ([insert tel. no.]), where applicable] who will do his/her best to answer your query. The researcher should acknowledge your concern within 10 working days and give you an indication of how he/she intends to deal with it. If you remain unhappy or wish to make a formal complaint, please contact the chair of the Research Ethics Committee at the University of Oxford (Chair, [Social Sciences and Humanities/Medical Sciences] Inter-Divisional Research Ethics Committee; Email: /; Address: Research Services, University of Oxford, Wellington Square, Oxford OX12JD). The chair will seek to resolve the matter in a reasonably expeditious manner.
What should I do next?
Please fill in the enclosed form and return it to your child’s class teacher if you would/would not[delete as appropriate for opt-in / opt-out studies]like your child to take part in this study. Please remember that you may withdraw at any time, without penalty and without giving a reason by notifying the researcher. If you would like to discuss the research with someone beforehand (or if you have questions afterwards), please contact:
[Insert Researcher Name]
[Insert Department Name]
[Insert Department Address]
Tel: [Insert Number]
Email: [insert address]
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