Main Content
May 6, 2021
Consent to take part in a research study
Title of study: RU Ready to Farm: Getting Rooted in the Garden State
Principal Investigator: William T. Hlubik
This online consent form is part of an informed consent process for a research study and it will provide information that will help you decide whether you want to take part in the study. It is your choice to take part or not. Your alternative to taking part in the research is not to take part in it.
Who is conducting this research study and what is it about?
You are being asked to take part in research being conducted by William T. Hlubik who is a County Agent I/Professor in the Dept. of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Rutgers Cooperative Extension, Rutgers University. The purpose of this study is to evaluate outcomes of, and understand how to improve, the RU Ready to Farm beginner farmer training program.
What will I be asked to do if I take part?
You will be asked to complete a series of surveys and respond to “Mentimeter” questions over the course of the program that ask questions about your experience in the program, including what you learned, your future farming goals, and some basic information about yourself and your farm. The surveys will consist of one intake survey, 14 short post session surveys, and one longer post program survey. Brief questions will also be asked during sessions using “Mentimeter” presentation slides. The survey will take between 5 and 15 minutes to complete.
What are the risks and/or discomforts I might experience if I take part in the study?
We do not anticipate any risks to you from completing the surveys or questions. Breach of confidentiality is a risk, but we have a data security plan in place to minimize such a risk. We believe the questions we will ask are not requesting sensitive information. However, if a question makes you feel uncomfortable, or you prefer not to answer, you can skip those questions or withdraw from the study altogether. If you decide to quit the survey your responses will NOT be saved.
Are there any benefits to me if I choose to take part in this study?
There may not be any direct benefits to you for taking part in this research. Your responses may help us improve the RU Ready to Farm program, so if you continue in future program modules, you may benefit from those improvements.
Will I be paid to take part in this study?
You will not be paid to take part in this study.
How will information about me be kept private or confidential?
All efforts will be made to keep your responses confidential, but total confidentiality cannot be guaranteed. We will use Qualtrics, an online survey program, to collect and forward your survey responses to us. We will assign a unique code to you, and we will use this code to track your responses. We will download your responses to a secure file that requires a password to access, and we will remove your name from this file after we assign your unique code, known only to the research team, to your responses. We will securely store the key code linking your name to your unique code in a separate password-protected file which will be destroyed after data analysis is complete and study findings are professionally presented or published. Only study staff will have access to the password. Responses will be deleted from the file after analysis is complete and study findings are professionally presented or published. No information that can identify you will appear in any presentation or publication of the results. Responses to Mentimeter questions are anonymous and no personal information will be collected.
What will happen to information I provide in the research after the study is over?
The information collected about you for this research will not be used by or distributed to investigators for other research.
What will happen if I do not want to take part or decide later not to stay in the study?
Your participation is voluntary. If you choose to take part now, you may change your mind and withdraw later. In addition, you can choose to skip questions that you do not wish to answer. If you do not click on the ‘submit’ button after completing a survey form, your responses will not be recorded. If you wish to withdraw your responses after you click the submit button, please contact the Principal Investigator.
Who can I call if I have questions?
If you have questions about taking part in this study, or wish to withdraw your responses, you can contact the Principal Investigator:
William T. Hlubik
County Agent I/Professor
Dept. of Agriculture and Natural Resources
Rutgers Cooperative Extension
Rutgers University
Middlesex County EARTH Center
42 Riva Avenue
North Brunswick, NJ 08902
Email: hlubik@sebs.rutgers.edu
If you have questions about your rights as a research subject, you can contact the IRB Director at (732) 235-2866 or the Rutgers Human Subjects Protection Program at (973) 972-1149, or email us at humansubjects@ored.rutgers.edu.
Please print out this consent form if you would like a copy of it for your files.
If you do not wish to take part in the research, close this website address. If you wish take part in the research, follow the directions below:
By beginning this research, I acknowledge that I am 18 years of age or older and have read and understand the information. I agree to take part in the research, with the knowledge that I am free to withdraw my participation in the research without penalty.
Return to the survey and answer “Yes” to question 1 to confirm your agreement to take part in the research.