Pedagogic Research Study, Course Policies, and Extra Credit Guidelines

Research Study Overview and Voluntary Participation

  • Core Study Purpose and Data Utilization:

    • Exam scores serve as the primary quantitative metric to evaluate academic performance in the course.
    • Consenting to the study grants permission for the researcher to analyze both exam scores and submitted survey data for educational research purposes.

  • Voluntary Participation and Withdrawal Process:

    • Participation in the research study (IMBER) is completely voluntary.
    • Participants may choose to withdraw from the study at any point during the active semester without penalty by emailing the instructor directly.

  • Data De-identification Protocols and Withdrawal Restrictions:

    • Withdrawal requests must be submitted within the active semester.
    • Following the end of the semester, all collected data undergoes a systematic cleaning and de-identification process, after which it is aggregated into a master dataset comprising over 10,000 individual participant records.
    • Once data is fully de-identified, individual student responses can no longer be identified, isolated, or extracted. Consequently, retroactive withdrawal requests submitted after the conclusion of the semester cannot be honored.

  • Distress Protocols and Student Support:

    • If any aspect of the study, survey questions, or subject matter causes distress, participants are advised to contact the instructor directly.
    • Participants are also explicitly encouraged to reach out to their medical doctor for external health and wellness support if needed.

Protocols for Joining the Study vs. Alternative Extra Credit Project

  • Strict Enrollment Deadline:

    • The absolute deadline to sign the consent form for the study or commit to the alternative extra credit project contract is Wednesday, September 9.
    • Late enrollment is strictly prohibited. Students cannot attempt to join the study or switch to the alternative project later in the semester (e.g., after taking Exam 1 or when seeking late extra credit).

  • Alternative Extra Credit Project Contract:

    • Students who choose not to participate in the research study can complete a formal contract available on Canvas.
    • This contract explicitly states non-consent to the research study and commits the student to completing a graded alternative assignment.
    • The contract details assignment specifications, rubrics, and grading criteria.

  • Alternative Project Options:

    • Option A: Video project.
    • Option B: Classroom learning model project.

  • Alternative Project Submission Deadline:

    • The hard deadline for submitting the alternative extra credit project is November 18 at noon.
    • This deadline occurs directly after the third exam.
    • No late submissions are accepted under any circumstances.

Canvas Interface and DocuSign Submission Procedures

  • Platform Navigation:

    • All necessary study documents, contracts, and resource links are hosted on Canvas.
    • It is strongly recommended to access Canvas via a computer; mobile phones and tablets are functionally inadequate for completing these forms properly.

  • Canvas Module Organization:

    • Seating Venn Diagram: Displays the physical classroom seating chart and arrangement.
    • Recruitment Slides: Complete presentation deck detailing the research study parameters.
    • Full Consent Form: Complete document providing exhaustive details regarding study participation terms and policies.
    • DocuSign Enrollment Link: Embedded link located directly beneath the consent form to execute consent.
    • Alternative Contract & DocuSign Link: Form and dedicated DocuSign submission link for declining study consent and committing to the alternative graded assignment.
    • Additional Course Links: Contains syllabus info, office hours, preceptor session credit details, and Campus Learning Center tutoring resources.

  • Executing DocuSign Forms:

    • Merely opening or viewing a DocuSign link does not sign or submit the form.
    • Users must navigate through all required fields and complete the final action buttons until DocuSign explicitly confirms form completion.

Critical Disqualification Rules and Submission Mistakes

  • Rule 1: Prohibition Against Signing Both Forms:

    • Students must not submit both the study consent form and the alternative project contract.
    • The alternative contract explicitly states rejection of study consent, meaning submitting both forms creates a contradiction that invalidates both submissions.
    • Signing both forms demonstrates that neither document was read, resulting in immediate and automatic disqualification from both the study and the alternative extra credit project without exception.

  • Rule 2: Mandatory Use of VCU Email and Legal Name:

    • All forms must be submitted using an official VCU email address and the student's correctly spelled legal name.
    • Submissions made with non-VCU email addresses or misspelled names will result in exclusion from the study unless corrected via DocuSign prior to the September 9 deadline.

Survey Methodology, Instrumentation, and RedCap Logistics

  • Survey Instruments and Published Frameworks:

    • Surveys utilize peer-reviewed, previously published, and validated assessment tools, including:
      • The ISQ survey
      • The electronics addiction survey
    • Surveys also include instructor-authored questions targeting general demographics and behavioral habits.

  • Privacy Protections for Personal Data:

    • Personal or demographic questions (such as household income, parental college education, or personal background) explicitly include a "prefer not to answer" option.

  • Data Processing and RedCap Ingestion Pipeline:

    • The initial survey is released approximately 1 to 2 weeks following the close of the enrollment window on September 9.
    • The instructor exports data from DocuSign, cleans and verifies the records to remove duplicate or invalid sign-ups, and uploads the verified roster to an anonymous launch platform on RedCap.
    • Notification process: Students receive an email directly in their inbox with the survey link, accompanied by an official announcement posted on Canvas.
    • Surveys have a strict two-week completion window from the date of release.

Pedagogic Research Goals, Factors Analyzed, and Longitudinal Context

  • Field Definition:

    • The study is classified as educational research, specifically pedagogic research, aimed at optimizing teaching methods and learning outcomes.

  • Key Behavioral and Demographic Variables Evaluated:

    • Classroom attendance frequency.
    • Physical seating position within the lecture hall.
    • Electronic device usage patterns and addiction metrics.
    • Intended vs. actual study behaviors.
    • Demographic profiles.

  • Core Research Objective:

    • Determine whether specific behaviors or demographic variables predict course performance (e.g., identifying behaviors that correlate with earning an AA versus an FF).
    • Utilize empirical findings to design instructional interventions that promote high-performing habits and discourage counterproductive academic behaviors.

  • Longitudinal Dataset Structure:

    • The overall research project analyzes multi-year comparative datasets across distinct instructional periods:
      • Pre-COVID baseline data.
      • During-COVID instructional data.
      • Post-COVID instructional data.
    • Ongoing analysis targets academic publications based on these longitudinal comparisons.

Questions & Discussion

  • Question: If a student starts a survey and decides they want to switch to the alternative extra credit option instead, is that allowed?

    • Response: No. Students cannot switch options after the consent period closes on September 9. Both options and form details must be thoroughly read and chosen prior to the close of the enrollment period.

  • Question: Will participants be informed of the final conclusions and data analysis results?

    • Response: Direct research conclusions are not distributed back to individual students as immediate classroom updates. The research team works directly on analyzing datasets for formal academic publications.