Consent
Title of the Project: The Challenges Leaders in Higher Education Face Ensuring That Higher Education Institutions Mitigate the Risks of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Principal Investigator: Skylar Brown, Doctoral Candidate, School of Business, Liberty University
Key Information about the Research Study
You are invited to participate in a research study. To participate, you must be 18 years of age or older and either be currently serving as the university president of Fordham University's Lincoln Center Campus, currently employed as a faculty member at Fordham University's Lincoln Center Campus, or currently serving as a dean of Fordham University's Lincoln Center Campus.
Things you should know:
- The purpose of the study is to explore the challenges higher education leaders face in ensuring that generative AI is used responsibly within a private higher education institution in the northeastern United States. Participants will participate in a semi-structured face-to-face audio- and video-recorded interview via Zoom (60 minutes), an audio- and video-recorded focus group session via Zoom (30 – 45 minutes), and take part in member checking (15 – 20 minutes). Participants may be asked to participate in follow-up interviews to confirm validity (20 – 30 minutes).
- Subjects are not expected to receive direct benefits.
- Taking part in this research project is voluntary. You do not have to participate, and you can stop at any time.
Please read this entire form and ask questions before deciding whether to participate in this research.
What is the study about, and why is it being done?
The purpose of the study is to explore the challenges higher education leaders face in ensuring critical thinking and honesty among generative AI users, while ensuring clarity of expectations within a higher education institution.
What will happen if you take part in this study?
If you agree to be in this study, I will ask you to do the following:
- Participate in a semi-structured face-to-face audio- and video-recorded interview via Zoom (60 minutes).
- Take part in an audio- and video-recorded face-to-face focus group (30 – 45 minutes).
- If selected, participate in an audio- and video-recorded follow-up interview that will take approximately 20 – 30 minutes to complete.
How could you or others benefit from this study?
Participants should not expect a direct benefit from participating in this study.
Benefits to society include reaching a better understanding of the challenges leaders in higher education face mitigating the risks of generative AI tools in the institution, which may guide higher education leaders in encouraging academic honesty, preserving critical thinking, and establishing clear generative AI expectations.
What risks might you 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 would encounter in everyday life.
This study will involve the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to assist with data analysis. While efforts will be made to ensure data accuracy and confidentiality, AI tools may carry minimal risks related to the misinterpretation of results and participant privacy. Any AI-assisted processes will follow strict ethical guidelines, and your data will not be used to train or refine AI systems.
How will 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 and the researcher's faculty supervisor will have access to the records.
- Participant responses will be kept confidential by replacing names with pseudonyms.
- Interviews will be conducted in a location where others will not easily overhear the conversation.
- Confidentiality cannot be guaranteed in focus group settings. While discouraged, other focus group members may share what was discussed with persons outside of the group.
- Data will be stored on a password-protected, encrypted service (Google Drive) on a password-protected computer. The researcher and his faculty supervisor will have access to the data. After seven years, all electronic records will be deleted.
- Recordings will be stored on a password-protected, encrypted service (Google Drive) on a password-protected computer. The researcher and his faculty supervisor will have access to the data. Once participants have reviewed and confirmed the accuracy of the recording transcripts, the recordings will be deleted.
- The data from this study will be analyzed using AI by using AI to assist the software analysis tools with analysis generation. Data will be stored on a password-protected, encrypted service (Google Drive) on a password-protected computer. The researcher and his faculty supervisor will have access to the data. After seven years, the data will be deleted.
Is study participation voluntary?
Participation in this study is voluntary. Your decision whether to participate will not affect your current or future relations with Liberty University. If you decide to participate, you are free not to answer any question or withdraw at any time without affecting those relationships.
What should you do if you decide to withdraw from the study?
If you choose to withdraw from the study, please contact the researcher at the email address in the next paragraph. Should you withdraw, data collected from you, apart from focus group data, will be destroyed immediately and not included in this study. Focus group data will not be destroyed, but your contributions to the focus group will not be included in the study if you choose to withdraw.
Whom do you contact if you have questions or concerns about the study?
The researcher conducting this study is Skylar Brown. You may ask any questions you have now. If you have questions later, you are encouraged to contact him at ssbrown15@liberty.edu. You may also contact the researcher's faculty sponsor, Dr. Christopher Demaline, at cjdemaline@liberty.edu.
Whom do you contact if you have questions about your rights as a research participant?
If you have any questions or concerns regarding this study and want to talk to someone other than the researcher, you are encouraged to contact the IRB. Our physical address is Institutional Review Board, 1971 University Blvd., Green Hall Ste. 2845, Lynchburg, VA, 24515; our phone number is 434-592-5530, and our email address is irb@liberty.edu.
Disclaimer: The Institutional Review Board (IRB) is tasked with ensuring that human subjects research will be conducted ethically as defined and required by federal regulations. The topics covered and viewpoints expressed or alluded to by student and faculty researchers are those of the researchers and do not necessarily reflect the official policies or positions of Liberty University.
Your Consent
By signing this document, you are agreeing to be in this study. Make sure you understand what the study is about before you sign. You will be given a copy of this document for your records. The researcher will keep a copy with the study records. If you have any questions about the study after you sign this document, you can contact the study team using the information provided above.
I have read and understood the above information. I have asked questions and have received answers. I consent to participate in the study.