Research Project Information Sheet

Ethics Approval Number: A211586

Project description

The purpose of this research project is to investigate the effectiveness of student support services on your experiences at university. If you were a first-year student in 2021 enrolled at the University of the Sunshine Coast, you are invited to participate in this research project.

Participation

If you agree to participate in this research project, you will be asked to participate in a 30-minute individual telephone interview. The interview will be facilitated by a member of the research team, with no affiliation to your program. Course coordinator/tutors will not know who participated in this research project. The interview will take place at a mutually convenient time and will take approximately 30 minutes. Topics to be discussed include why you chose to access support services, your experiences of particular support services, or why you chose not to access support services. The interview will be recorded.

Your participation is voluntary. Your participation, or not, will not affect your relationship with USC or your course coordinator and will not affect your academic progression or course grades.

If you decide to take part and later change your mind, you are free to withdraw up to the point at which data is aggregated and analysed. Please contact the Chief Investigator (listed above) to discuss withdrawal.

Consent

You will be asked to provide written consent. Consent is for your data and information to be collected in an identifiable / re-identifiable format, stored in a non-identifiable format, and used in analysis and publications in a non-identifiable format. Consent is sought for this project and for related, ethics-approved, projects that may be undertaken by this research team. If you are under the age of 18, the research team encourages you to discussing consent with someone who can help you to make the decision to participate in the research.

Risks and benefits

There are no anticipated risks associated with your participation. Due to the nature of the project, it may be possible for your identity to be inferred. Where this may be possible, please let the research team know if you wish to review transcripts/direct quotes/publications etc. We ask that you respect your fellow participants by keeping all discussions confidential.

Sometimes thinking about the themes discussed in the interview can create uncomfortable or distressing feelings. You are not required to answer questions and you may discontinue or pause the interview at any time if required. If you need to talk to someone you may wish to contact Student Wellbeing (07 5430 1226), Lifeline (13 11 14) or Beyond Blue (1300 224 636).

The suite of student support services offered at the University of the Sunshine Coast may be influenced or improved by this research. Your participation in this research project may directly benefit you through an iterative design process where data collected will inform the development of these services. Your participation will also contribute to knowledge in the discipline. Your success and outcomes remain your responsibility.

Privacy, confidentiality and results

Any data collected as a part of this research project will be stored securely as per USC’s Research Data Management Procedures. All comments and responses will be treated confidentially unless required by law.

The research team will be able to identify you if you choose to participate. Participation status or individual comments will not be shared with your Course coordinator/tutors. Transcriptions and recordings will be de-identified and stored in a non-identifiable format. It will not be possible to participate in the project without being recorded. Where this may be possible, please let the research team know if you wish to review transcripts.

The results of this research project may be presented at external or internal conferences or meetings, or by publication. If you would like a summary of findings of this research project, please contact the Chief Investigator (listed above).

Concerns or Complaints

If you have any concerns or complaints about the way this research project is being conducted you can raise them with the Chief Investigator (listed above). If you prefer an independent person, you may contact the Chair of the USC Human Research Ethics Committee: (c/- Office of Research, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore DC 4558; telephone (07) 5430 2823; email humanethics@usc.edu.au).

Please save the information above if you choose to participate.