Participant Information
The Effects COVID-19 Has Had on Students Learning Experiences
Faculty of Health and Life Sciences Department of Psychology, Health and Professional Development Oxford Brookes University, Headington, OXFORD OX3 0BP.
Researcher: Millie Howarth, Undergraduate, Email: 19015493@brookes.ac.uk
Supervisor: Olivia Afonso Email: afonso@brookes.ac.uk Telf: 01865484814
Please take time to read the following information carefully.
What is the purpose of the study?
The outbreak of COVID-19 put the world to a standstill, with many countries putting lock-downs in place to prevent the spread of the disease. Along with this, many work and schooling environments were moved to remote, at home learning. This study aims to explore the learning experiences of university students over lock-down, with a focus on that of students diagnosed with dyslexia and/or specific learning difficulties (SpLD).
Why have I been invited to participate?
As an Oxford Brookes university student, you have been invited to take part in the following study, to evaluate how supported you felt by the university between September 2020 to May, 2021. The sample size aims to consist of 40 subjects and above, including students with and without learning difficulties.
Do I have to take part?
No. It is up to you to decide whether or not to take part. If you do decide to take part you will be asked to provide your consent, and you can keep, or download, a copy of this form if you wish. If you decide to take part you are still free to withdraw unprocessed data and without giving a reason by closing the browser at any time. After your response is submitted, your data is unidentifiable due to it being an anonymous study, and so it is not possible to withdraw after this.
What will happen to me if I take part?
You will be asked to provide a few demographic details about yourself, for example your age, whether you have a specific learning difficulty or not. This will help differentiate groups to fully evaluate each participant's learning experience. A few details about your experience will be asked in reference to how supported you felt by the university during lock-down, and whether you used any of the resources provided. You will also be asked if you experienced and COVID-19 related anxiety.
What are the possible benefits or disadvantages of taking part?
There are no direct individual benefits to you, but if you choose to participate in this study, you will be helping us understand how universities can improve their resources to improve remote learning for all students. The main benefit is for me as partaking in this study will help me complete my dissertation. Other than the time you spend answering the questionnaire, there are no disadvantages of taking part in this study. However, there are questions that could be stressful for some participants that have experienced upsetting events due to corona virus. If you do not wish to think about this period of your life, you might want to consider not to take part.
Will what I say in this study be kept confidential?
Yes. You will not be asked to give any information that could be used to identify you personally (e.g., your name, date of birth, IP address). Only the researchers involved in the study will have access to your anonymous responses. Confidentiality, privacy and anonymity will be ensured in the collection, storage and publication of research material (subject to legal limitations). Research data will be stored in Google Drive, for which the University has a security agreement
What should I do if I want to take part?
If you would like to take part, please click on the Continue to Questionnaire button at the bottom of this page before proceeding.
What will happen to the results of the research study?
The results of this study will be written up for a dissertation, and may be published in an academic journal, or presented at a conference. They may also be used for future research on the topic. All data collected from this research will be kept in keeping with the University’s policy of Academic Integrity. This means that all data will be securely stored in paper or electronic form for a period of 10 years when the project is finished.
Who has reviewed this study?
This research is being conducted by a Psychology student at Oxford Brookes University as part of the requirement for their course. The study procedures have been reviewed and approved by the Psychology Research Ethics Committee, Oxford Brookes University. If you have any concerns about how the study has been conducted, please contact the Psychology Research Ethics Officer, Dr Emma Davies, on edavies@brookes.ac.uk
Contact for Further Information
Please contact the researcher or their supervisor (contact details above) if you would like any further information about this study.
If you wish to obtain a summary of the findings when they have been written up please e-mail Millie Howarth at 19015493@brookes.ac.uk after 14th May 2022.
Thank you for taking time to read the information sheet.
1st December 2021 12th December 2021
