Consent to Participate
Project Title: TREKS: Trails, route-making, environmental knowledge and stewardship study

Purpose of the Study:
This research is being conducted by Dr. Madeline Brown at the University of Maryland, College Park.  We are inviting you to participate in this study because you have experience or an interest in trails and trail building.  The purpose of this research is to understand how trail use and trail building influences stewardship, sense of place and conservation. 

Procedures:
The procedures involve participating in an about 15 minute online survey. You may also have the opportunity to be further involved in follow-up interviews if you are interested and eligible. Other than the question asking you to consent to participate, you may skip any questions you do not wish to answer. Sample questions include: How would you define stewardship? Why did you get involved with trail work? Which recreational activities have you engaged in on trails in the last 12 months?

Potential Risks and Discomforts:
There may be some risks from participating in this research study.  The primary risk is loss of confidentiality. This risk is mitigated by removing personally identifiable information from all public research reports. Potential Benefits  There are no direct benefits from participating in this research. However, possible benefits include contributing your opinions and ideas to a study about trail work and stewardship. We hope that, in the future, other people might benefit from this study through improved understanding of how the practice of building and designing trails influences conservation outcomes, community engagement and marginalization, as well as the sense of place and meaning making in diverse socioecological landscapes.

Confidentiality:
 Any potential loss of confidentiality will be minimized by storing data files and recordings in password protected computers and two factor enabled cloud synced folders accessible only to the research team. Personally identifiable information (e.g. names, contact information) will be kept in separate files from research data, which will be linked only through coded IDs. Personally identifiable information will only be accessible to Dr. Madeline Brown and the research team. Research data will only be shared in a de-identified form.

If we write a report or article about this research project, your identity will be protected to the maximum extent possible.  Your information may be shared with representatives of the University of Maryland, College Park or governmental authorities if you or someone else is in danger or if we are required to do so by law.

Right to Withdraw and Questions:
Your participation in this research is completely voluntary.  You may choose not to take part at all.  If you decide to participate in this research, you may stop participating at any time.  If you decide not to participate in this study or if you stop participating at any time, you will not be penalized or lose any benefits to which you otherwise qualify. If you are an employee or student, your employment status or academic standing at UMD will not be positively or negatively affected by your participation or non-participation in this study.

If you decide to stop taking part in the study, if you have questions, concerns, or complaints, or if you need to report an injury related to the research, please contact the investigator: Dr. Madeline Brown, Department of Anthropology, University of Maryland, 111 Woods Hall, 4302 Chapel Lane, College Park, MD 20742, Mtbrown@umd.edu

Participant Rights:
If you have questions about your rights as a research participant or wish to report a research-related injury, please contact:
University of Maryland College Park, Institutional Review Board Office, 1204 Marie Mount Hall, College Park, Maryland, 20742, E-mail: irb@umd.edu, Telephone: 301-405-0678

For more information regarding participant rights, please visit: https://research.umd.edu/irb-research-participants

This research has been reviewed according to the University of Maryland, College Park IRB procedures for research involving human subjects.
Statement of Consent:
By clicking “I Agree” you indicate that you are at least 18 years of age; you have read this consent form or have had it read to you; your questions have been answered to your satisfaction and you voluntarily agree to participate in this research study. You may print a copy of this signed consent form.

 

I confirm that I am over 18 years of age, residing or working in the United States, and consent to participate in this study. I understand that my participation is voluntary and I may withdraw without penalty at any time. I also understand that I may optionally provide contact information at the end of this survey to be contacted for a follow up interview. 


If you agree to participate, please click “I Agree” below.


Note: Your responses will not be recorded until you hit "Submit" on the final page of the survey. If you do not feel like answering any questions or would like to stop part way through the survey, please be sure to click to the end of the survey and hit "Submit" to have your responses recorded (even if partial). Thank you!