Title of Study: Experiences of Twice-Exceptional Russophone Families in the United States
Study Investigator(s): Yekaterina O’Neil
Contact information: katrina.oneil@bgs.edu, 415-531-1809
Capstone Advisor: Dr. C Matthew Fugate
Contact Information: matt.fugate@bgs.edu, 832-647-6090
INTRODUCTION:
You are being asked to be in a research study exploring the experiences of the Russophone twice-exceptional (2e) families in the United States. This study is being conducted by: Yekaterina O’Neil at Elmbridge University (formerly Bridges Graduate School of Cognitive Diversity in Education).
You were selected as a possible participant because you are a member of a Russophone social media community in the U.S.
Please read this consent form and ask any questions you have before agreeing to be in the study.
PROCEDURES:
If you agree to be in this study, you will be asked to do the following:
- Fill out a short online Jotform demographic survey to be used as a pre-screener by answering 5 questions about your age, cultural background, state or territory of residence, the number of children between ages 9 and 21 with co-occurring high abilities and challenges you have, and contact information. You will also be asked to sign an informed consent form at the same time.
- Once qualification criteria for the study are verified and an informed consent form is signed, you will be contacted to arrange a time for a 60 to 90-minute semi-structured oral interview to be conducted online over Zoom in either Russian or English. At that time, you will also be asked to choose pseudonyms to be used for your name and any other potential identifiers, such as specific geographic locations or organizations you are associated with to guarantee confidentiality of your data.
- At the beginning of the scheduled interview, you will be explained your right to participate, opt out of the study at any time, and approve or decline any collected data. You will also be reminded that confidentiality of your data will be guaranteed by using pre-agreed upon pseudonyms when referring to your name and any other potential identifiers, such as specific geographic locations or organizations you are associated with, in all interview recordings and transcripts, as well as written documents and data analysis drafts. You will be assured that paper documents associated with the study will be scanned and shredded, and all electronic documents will be stored on a password-protected desktop computer, in a password-protected Google account, and in a password-protected Jotform account. You will further be explained that only de-identified coded data will be made available to researchers, including those at Elmbridge University, as well as external auditors, for further research, including additional coding and analysis, and verification.
- Your interview will be audio and video recorded and transcribed in real time using the built-in features of Zoom technology. Interviews conducted in Russian will potentially need to be transcribed and translated into English manually by me, a native speaker, depending on how well the Zoom built-in features work with languages other than English.
If clarification is needed, follow-up questions will be asked during and after the interview. You will be given the opportunity to review the transcripts of the recorded interviews and drafts of data analysis for feedback and will be asked if you can be contacted in the future for any needed clarifications as data analysis and coding progress. You will also be informed that the dissertation containing the final outcomes of the study will be made publicly available on Elmbridge University’s website for any interested parties to review.
COMPENSATION/INCENTIVES:
You will receive compensation. As a token of my appreciation for your time and efforts, an incentive in the form of a book I published for the Russophone audience titled The Woes of Wit detailing my family’s twice-exceptionality journey will be offered. Once the interviews are conducted, follow-up questions are resolved, and interview transcripts are approved by you, I will media mail you a signed paperback copy of the book.
RISKS AND BENEFITS:
While the experiences you will be describing in the interviews might bring some traumatizing and triggering memories, I will minimize your discomfort and anxiety by creating a warm and psychologically safe environment during the interviews and assuring you that your participation is completely optional and you can opt out of the study at any point.
While there might not be any direct benefits to you specifically, your involvement in this study will broaden educators,' specialists,’ and other professionals’ understanding of the challenges twice-exceptional Russophone families experience in the United States and drive appropriate change. Furthermore, your participation will help spread awareness of neurodiversity, giftedness, learning differences, and twice-exceptionality among members of the broader Russophone community.
CONFIDENTIALITY:
The records of this study will be kept private and your confidentiality will be protected. In any sort of report the researcher(s) might publish, no identifying information will be included.
Research records will be stored securely and only the researcher(s) will have access to the records. All data will be kept by the investigator(s) on a password-protected computer, in a password-protected Google account, and in a password-protected Jotform account. All study records, including approved IRB documents and consent forms, will be destroyed by shredding and/or deleting after 3 years.
It is possible that other people may need to see the information we collect about you. These people may include those who work at Elmbridge University and are involved in approving and advising on this research, and a government office that is responsible for making sure the research is done safely and properly.
Your research data will be kept for use in future research studies. Your name and other information that can directly identify you will be kept secure and stored separately from the research data collected as part of the project.
VOLUNTARY NATURE OF THE STUDY:
Participation in this study is voluntary and requires your informed consent. Your decision whether or not to participate will not affect your current or future relations with Elmbridge University. If you decide to participate, you are free to skip any question that is asked. You may also withdraw from this study at any time without penalty.
CONTACTS AND QUESTIONS:
The researcher conducting this study is Yekaterina O’Neil. If you have questions, you are encouraged to contact the researcher at Elmbridge University either via e-mail (katrina.oneil@bgs.edu) or phone (415-531-1809). You can also contact Dr. C. Matthew Fugate, Provost of Elmbridge University, either via e-mail (matt.fugate@bgs.edu) or phone (832-647-6090).
STATEMENT OF CONSENT:
I am 18 years of age or older. I have read and understood the above information. I consent to participate in the study.