Will students who are not participating in the study be excused from class lessons?

All students enrolled in the classes that are part of the study will participate in all classroom instruction. To maintain study integrity, nonparticipants will not know which specific lessons are associated with the study. No information about the nonparticipating students will be collected by the researcher or used in the study.

Can a student who did not sign the consent join the study at a later date?

Yes. Any student who changes their mind and decides to take part in the study may sign the assent form at any time prior to administration of the final survey.

Can a student withdraw consent after signing the assent form?

Yes. Any student can decide to withdraw from the study at any time prior to final data collection by the researcher. The student needs only to inform their teacher or the researcher they no longer wish to participate.

How could participants or others benefit from this study?

The direct benefits participants should expect from participating in this study are learning new techniques for storytelling and playwriting that will enhance their writing abilities.

Benefits to society include helping teachers understand better how different teaching methods might affect the culture in the school. This will help teachers to make school a better place to learn for all students from various backgrounds. 

What risks might participants experience from being in this study?

The expected risks from participating in this study are minimal, which means they are equal to the risks you and your students would encounter in everyday life.

How will students' personal information be protected?

The records of this study will be kept private. Published reports will not include any information that will make it possible to identify a subject. Research records will be stored securely, and only the researcher will have access to the records. 

• Participant responses to the online survey will be kept confidential by replacing names with codes. 

• Data collected from students may be shared with other researchers. If data is reused or shared, any information that could identify your child, if applicable, will be removed beforehand.

• Data will be stored in password-protected files online. After five years, all electronic records will be deleted.

How will participants be compensated for being part of the study? 

Participants will be compensated for participating in this study. At the conclusion of the survey  participants will receive a pencil and sticker.

What if a teacher or student has a question that isn't answered here?

You or your students can ask questions any time. You may contact the researcher using the information here. Students and parents are welcome to contact the researcher directly as well.