Carnegie Mellon University
Template for Online Consent
This research, conducted by Drs. Rosta Farzan and Robert Kraut at Carnegie Mellon University
attempts, to learn how to help members of online groups develop expertise in technical areas.
Our goal is to help members of TurboTax Live Community (TTLC) online question-and-answer site
improve their ability to participate in the site. We have prepared a training procedure designed to
increase your general tax knowledge and TurboTax product knowledge and to make you more
familiar with the norms on Live Community site.
Procedures
We have developed an online site which offers you training material. Every week you will be
asked to answer tax related questions and review answers provided by other participants. The
trainig will run for four weeks. We expect each participants to spend about 5 hours every week
going through the training materials. You can complete the tasks at any location at which you
have online access. New questions and answers will be posted everyday but you can complete
them at your own pace during the week. At the end of each week, you will be graded on your
weekly performance and questions of that week will expire. They will still be available for
viewing but you will not be able to achieve any grade for answering them.
Participant Requirements
Participation in this study is limited to individuals age 18 and older.
Risks
The risks and discomfort associated with participation in this study are no greater than those
ordinarily encountered in daily life, including your past participation in the TurboTax
LiveCommunity.
Benefits
You can benefit from participating in this research by becoming more knowledgeable about the US tax
code and the Live Community, which should make you more helpful and influential in the community.
Compensation & Costs
There are no cost to you for participating in this research. To show our appreciation, participants
will receive a free copy of next year TurboTax software.
Confidentiality
The data captured for the research does not include any personally identifiable information about
you. Your real name and IP address will not be captured. All information will be linked to your
TurboTax LiveCommunity nickname.
Confidentiality of your data will be maintained in the following manner:
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Carnegie Mellon University
Your data and consent form will be kept separate. Your consent form will not be disclosed to third
parties. By participating, you understand and agree that the data and information gathered
during this study may be used by Carnegie Mellon and published and/or disclosed by Carnegie
Mellon to others outside of Carnegie Mellon. However, your name, address, contact information
and other direct personal identifiers in your consent form will not be mentioned in any such
publication or dissemination of the research data and/or results by Carnegie Mellon. Data from
the research will be shared with Intuit employees.
However, by participating in this research, you understand and agree that Carnegie Mellon may
be required to disclose your consent form and data as required by law, regulation, subpoena or
court order.
Right to Ask Questions & Contact Information
If you have any questions about this study, you should feel free to ask them by contacting the
Principal Investigator now at Robert Kraut, Herbert A. Simon Professor, Human Computer
Interaction Institute, 5000 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, (412) 268-7694,
robert.kraut@cmu.edu. If you have questions later, desire additional information, or wish to
withdraw your participation please contact the Principle Investigator by mail, phone or e-mail in
accordance with the contact information listed above.
If you have questions pertaining to your rights as a research participant; or to report objections
to this study, you should contact the Research Regulatory Compliance Office at Carnegie Mellon
University. Email: irb-review@andrew.cmu.edu . Phone: 412-268-1901 or 412-268-5460.
The Carnegie Mellon University Institutional Review Board (IRB) has approved the use of human
participants for this study.
Voluntary Participation
Your participation in this research is voluntary. You may discontinue participation at any time
during the research activity.
The following information will be added to our online survey webpage:
I am age 18 or older.
Yes
No [if the answer is no, the individual will not be allowed to
proceed to the next question.]
I have read and understand the information above.
Yes
No [if the answer is no, the
individual will not be allowed to proceed to the next question.]
I want to participate in this research and continue with the survey.
Yes
No [if the
answer is no, the individual will not be allowed to proceed to the next section.]
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