From: joanne twining, Doctoral Candidate
School of Library and Information Studies
Texas Woman's University
twining@texoma.net

To: Collaboratory Pioneers

  Invitation to Participate in Dissertation Research:
DELPHI AMONG COLLABORATORY PIONEERS

You are invited
to participate in an electronic
Delphi Among Collaboratory Pioneers

The Delphi is Phase Three of my doctoral dissertation research at the School of Library and Information Studies at Texas Woman's University. The purpose of the Delphi is to create an inter-subjective reality among Collaboratory Pioneers by determining the "Rules of the Road" for the Collaboratory, and identifying skills Collaboratory Pioneers value most in prospective Collaboratory participants.

The Delphi will be conducted online using email and the web. The results of your efforts will provide useful information for future Collaboratory participants.

To protect the integrity of this study, you will be provided the names and email addresses of all participants in this Delphi. You are asked to not communicate with Delphi participants about this Delphi during the course of its execution.

You will receive three or four consecutive questionnaires by email or the web, the number depends on how easily the group moves toward consensus, or shared understanding. The goal is for consensus or shared understanding to be reached by the end of the last questionnaire. Your responses will be tabulated after each round, themes will be determined, and your reactions to the relative importance of each theme will be solicited. You will be provided with information about how other participants responded to the questions so that you can see how your answers compared. Participant confidentiality will be maintained, however, since all identifying features, such as names, institutional affiliations, or revealing examples, will be removed from these instruments.

Your continuous participation throughout the entire process is highly desirable. If, however, extenuating circumstances require you to drop out, you may certainly do so without repercussions. It is important throughout for your participation to be completely voluntary.

Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact me by email to twining@texoma.net, or by phone: (903) 893-9112. You may also contact my Dissertation Committee Chair, Dr. John D'Angelo, via email at jdangelo@twu.edu or by telephone at (940) 898-2617.

If you would like to participate in this Delphi Among Collaboratory Pioneers, please read the consent form below carefully, supply the requested information, and submit the form as soon as possible. You will receive confirmation by return webpage. Further instructions will be sent to the email address you provide.

If you prefer, you may print and sign this consent form and return by postal mail to:
joanne twining
School of Library and Information Studies
Texas Woman's University
P.O. Box 425438
Denton, Texas 76201-5438

Thank you for your consideration.


CONSENT FORM
Texas Woman's University, Denton, Texas 76201
CONSENT TO PARTICIPATE IN ELECTRONI DELPHI

Title of Study: A Naturalistic Journey into the Collaboratory: In Search of Understanding for Prospective Participants. Phase Three

Name of Investigator: joanne twining twining@texoma.net
Phone Number : (903) 893-9112

Name of Dissertation Chair: John D'Angelo, Ph.D. jdangelo@twu.edu
Phone Number: (940) 898-2617

I understand that this research study will generate the "Rules of the Road" for Collaboratory and identify the skills that Collaboratory Pioneers most valued in prospective Collaboratory participants. I understand that I will be expected to complete and return three or four brief questionnaires in an attempt to achieve consensus. Each questionnaire is likely to take up to a half-hour to complete.

I understand that potential risks to me as a subject are
(a) the on-going commitment of time required and
(b) the danger of loss of confidentiality.

I realize that if I am not prepared to respond to each subsequent questionnaire, I should refuse to participate from the beginning, although if it does become necessary to back out of the study at some point due to unforeseen circumstances, I can do so without adverse repercussions. I understand that the researcher will keep all data securely stored on private computer and archival media. All data generated during this study will be erased immediately following completion of this study.

I understand that the personal benefits I can gain from participating in this study includes being able to provide input into research that will improve understanding about the Collaboratory by prospective participants. I understand that my participation in this study is voluntary and that I may withdraw from the study at any time. My refusal to participate will involve no penalty or loss of benefits to which I am otherwise entitled.

I understand that to preserve the integrity of the research, it will be necessary that fellow Delphi participants be aware that I am a participant. I understand that my name and email address will be included on a list of participants and that the list will be provided to all participants at the beginning of the study. I understand that I should not communicate with fellow Delphi participants about the Delphi during its execution.

I understand that in subsequent rounds of the Delphi the names and identifying features of individual participants will be removed from any information turned back to the group so that no individual can be linked to a comment. I understand that no individual's identifying features will be included in any reports of the study.

An offer has been made to answer all my questions and concerns about this study. If I have questions about the research or about my rights as a subject, I should ask the researchers. Their email addresses and phone numbers are at the top of this form. If I have questions later, or if I wish to report a problem, I may contact the researchers or the Office of Research & Grants Administration at (940) 898-3377.

The researchers will try to prevent any problem that could happen because of this research. I should let the researcher or the Doctoral Dissertation Committee Chair know at once if there is a problem and they will help me. I understand, however, that Texas Woman's University does not provide medical services or financial assistance for injuries that might happen because I am taking part in this research.


If you agree to participate in an electronic
Delphi Among Collaboratory Pioneers,
please provide the following information and SEND this form

No additional contact is necessary or anticipated

Your Name:

Name of Your Collaboratory:

URL of Your Collaboratory:

Your email address:

Your Telephone Number:

Your Mailing Address:

Please provide a Validation Code that may be used
to verify your conset in event of Audit:

Thank you.

If you would like to nominate other Collaboratory Pioneers for this study,
please send their name, email address or URL to twining@texoma.net

Full information about this dissertation research is available at http://www.intertwining.org/dissertation

Thank you for your help in this important research.
joanne twining, Doctoral Candidate
School of Library and Information Studies
Texas Woman's University
Placed May 04, 1999
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