Information about the TAG project and evaluation
What is the purpose of the study?
What will happen if I take part?
Why have you been asked to participate?
What are the possible benefits?
Will my taking part in the study be confidential?
What will happen to the findings?
Project Title: TAG - The Alternative Guide to UCLan
Researchers: Lucy Warman, Professor John O’Donoghue, Garry Watkins, Louisa Dignan
You are invited to participate in a research study, but before you do it is important that you understand the research being undertaken. Please take your time to read the following information and if anything is unclear please do not hesitate to contact the TAG Team.
What is the purpose of the study?
The study aims to explore whether TAG – The Alternative Guide to UCLan enables potential students to develop realistic expectations of university to ease the transition in to higher education and aid retention at UCLan.
What will happen if I take part?
Initially you will be sent an email inviting you to complete a questionnaire online. At the end of this questionnaire you will be asked whether you would be willing to participate in the next stages of evaluation. You are under no obligation to do so. The next stages of evaluation will either consist of a second questionnaire and / or an invitation to participate in an interview and / or a focus group and / or an invitation to maintain a blog to allow the TAG team to track your student experience. Even if you agree to take part, you are free to withdraw at anytime.
Why have you been asked to participate?
You have been invited to participate because you have used the TAG website. All users, whether they are potential students, parents, employers, those who have produced content, etc are invited to participate as we are eager to know why you used TAG and if it was of use to you.
Do you have to take part?
No, even after you have agreed to participate you are free to withdraw at anytime. Completion of the questionnaire(s) will be taken as your consent to participate in the evaluation and you will be asked to complete consent forms to participate in the interviews and focus groups and to allow the TAG team access to any blogs.
What are the possible risks?
We do not foresee any risks should you chose to participate in this study. The research team does not constitute any members of staff who are involved in the admissions process or would be directly involved in teaching you if you studied at UCLan. The information you provide will be confidential but not anonymous as we hope to track users. However, to ensure you anonymity, a pseudonym will be allocated to your data for use in publication and dissemination. Features in the data provided that will lead to the identity of an individual will not be published.
What are the possible benefits?
You will have experience of participating in a research project which you could include on your CV or gain experience from should you ever conduct your own research.
Will my taking part in the study be confidential?
Yes, the information you provide will be confidential but not anonymous as we hope to track users. However, to ensure you anonymity, a pseudonym will be allocated to your data.
What will happen to the findings?
The findings will be used to develop the TAG project further and to disseminate the project across the HE sector and to TAG stakeholders. The team are aiming to publish their findings.
