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INFORMED CONSENT DOCUMENT

   
     Title of Study:  Inference for Statistical Graphics

     Investigators:  Heike Hofmann, Mahbubul Majumder, Dianne Cook
 

This is a research study. Please take your time in deciding if you would like to participate. Please feel free to ask questions at any time. INTRODUCTION Graphical displays are a highly efficient form of communicating information. The purpose of this study is to investigate what power graphical displays have in revealing structure to the observer. This has benefits that are widely applicable and will help us to learn which kind of structures are easier for us to see, what structures we react more strongly to. This knowledge can then be incorporated into graphical displays to make them even more effective, i.e. make it easier for us to understand them and digest the information provided visually. You are being invited to participate in a research study regarding statistical graphics to investigate their power in communicating information. You should not participate if you are not yet 18 years old. DESCRIPTION OF PROCEDURES If you agree to participate, you will be presented with a series of similar looking charts as shown in the trial run (click on it). From these charts, you will be asked to pick the one that is most unlike the others. Once you have made your choice, we also ask you to give us a reason for your choice, i.e. we ask you to describe the feature in the chart that makes it unique. Your participation will last for about 3 minutes. RISKS To the best of our knowledge you are not exposed to any risk due to participating in the study. We will record your answers, but store your (screen) name and any identifying information separately to maintain confidentiality. After the study has ended, we will provide you with a summary of our findings. We will also share summaries of our findings in research journals and with the general public. A dataset with non-identifiable, aggregated information will be published online. BENEFITS If you decide to participate in this study there will be no direct benefit to you. It is hoped that the information gained in this study will benefit society by furthering the field of statistical graphics with possible impact on a variety of data-dependent fields. You will get to experience state-of-the-art graphical methodology in a game-like test environment. COSTS AND COMPENSATION You will not have any costs from participating in this study. If you have reached this study through the Amazon Mechanical Turk Services, you will be compensated for participation according to the terms listed there. Otherwise you will not be compensated for participating in this study. PARTICIPANT RIGHTS Your participation in this study is completely voluntary and you may refuse to participate or leave the study at any time. If you decide to not participate in the study or leave the study early, it will not result in any penalty or loss of benefits to which you are otherwise entitled. You can skip any questions that you do not wish to answer. CONFIDENTIALITY Records identifying participants will be kept confidential to the extent permitted by applicable laws and regulations and will not be made publicly available. However, federal government regulatory agencies such as NSF, auditing departments of Iowa State University, and the Institutional Review Board (a committee that reviews and approves human subject research studies) may inspect and/or copy your records for quality assurance and data analysis. These records may contain private information. To ensure confidentiality to the extent permitted by law, the following measures will be taken: We will record your answers, but store your (screen) name and any identifying information separately in a secure database to maintain confidentiality. After the study has ended, summaries of our findings will be made available online. We will also share summaries of our findings in research journals and with the general public. A dataset with non-identifiable, aggregated information will be published online. If the results are published, your identity will remain confidential. QUESTIONS OR PROBLEMS You are encouraged to ask questions at any time during this study.  For further information about the study contact Dr Heike Hofmann, hofmann@iastate.edu, 515-294-8948.  If you have any questions about the rights of research subjects or research-related injury, please contact the IRB Administrator, (515) 294-4566, IRB@iastate.edu, or Director, (515) 294-3115, Office for Responsible Research, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011.