ANÁLISIS POR CATEGORÍAS 63

PARTICIPANT (ADULT) CONSENT FORM

How Principals’ Beliefs about Classroom Assessment Influence their Leadership Practices: An Exploration

You are being invited to participate in a study entitled “How Principals’ Beliefs about Classroom Assessment Influence their Leadership Practices: An Exploration” that is being conducted by Maureen Parker. Maureen is a graduate student in the Faculty of Education at the University of Lethbridge and you may contact her if you have further questions by telephone at (780)468-1625, (780)908-7141 or by email at

[email protected].

As a graduate student, I am required to conduct research as part of the requirements for a degree in Master of Education (Leadership). It is being conducted under the supervision of Dr. George Bedard. You may contact my supervisor at (403)329-2725.

The purpose of the research is to interview school principals to explore their beliefs about classroom assessment and to determine how their beliefs about classroom assessment influence their leadership practices.

Research of this type is important because the release of the results from Alberta's Commission on Learning are shaping education in Alberta. Every educational institution in Alberta, from the College of Alberta School Superintendents to the Alberta Teachers' Association to Alberta Education, indicates that school principals are responsible for creating educational environments that promote student learning. As well, the Alberta Assessment Consortium has emerged in Alberta as an influential advocate of rich classroom assessment as a key to student learning.

There is plenty of research to indicate the link between classroom teaching and student learning. The indirect nature of this research will shed light on Alberta principals' views and understandings of classroom assessment, and how this shapes their role as

instructional leaders in their schools.

You are being asked to participate in this study because you were referred by a colleague as a current Alberta school principal who may be willing to participate in this research study.

If you agree to voluntarily participate in this research, your participation will include a one-time scheduled, audio-recorded interview with the researcher.

Participation in this study may cause some inconvenience to you given the full and unpredictable schedules of school principals. Every effort will be made to conduct the interview at a pre-arranged place and time that is suitable to you, the participant. There are some potential risks to you by participating in this research and they include that you may draw on examples of your own or examples of your colleagues' classroom assessment practices in response to questions. Therefore, confidentiality will be

preserved. The names of participants, students, colleagues, schools, school districts and communities mentioned will not be included in interview transcripts or in the research findings. If appropriate or necessary, pseudonyms and non-identifying references will be created to protect all identities.

The potential benefits of your participation in this research include contributions to specific research in the Alberta context that addresses school leadership and classroom assessment that will provide timely insights. Findings may reveal necessary training and supports for school principals as they are considered accountable for student learning and achievement in their schools.

Your participation in this research must be completely voluntary. If you do decide to participate, you may withdraw at any time without any consequences or any explanation. If you do withdraw from the study your data will be destroyed. If you agree, some of the data may be included in the thesis.

Your anonymity, confidentiality and the confidentiality of the data will be protected by coding all participants with a number in transcripts and potentially a pseudonym in the research study. Other identifying information will be omitted or replaced with non- identifying references.

Audio-recorded interviews will be transcribed by the researcher. Participants' responses may be quoted or paraphrased in the research study findings and conclusions. All other notes and audio recordings will be destroyed upon completion of the study.

It is anticipated that the results of this study will be shared with others in the following ways: the primary form of dissemination will be in the form of a thesis defense. If the research findings are considered relevant, discussions or presentations may be made to requesting professional organizations such as school boards or the Alberta Assessment Consortium for example.

In addition to being able to contact the researcher and the supervisor at the above phone numbers, you may verify the ethical approval of this study, or raise any concerns you might have, by contacting the Chair of the Faculty of Education Human Subjects

Your signature below indicates that you understand the above conditions of participation in this study and that you have had the opportunity to have your questions answered by the researchers.

Name of Participant Signature Date