A Phenomenological Study of Teachers’ Lived Experiences Working in Schools Influenced by Principal Turnover
Carrie Link Liberty University School of Education
You are invited to be in a research study of how teachers experience principal turnover. You were selected as a possible participant because you are employed at school that has experienced turnover within the last two years. You were also selected because you are a teacher that was at your school before, during, and after the principal turnover. I ask that you read this form and ask any questions you may have before agreeing to be in the study.
Carrie Link, a doctoral candidate in the School of Education at Liberty University, is conducting this study.
Background Information: The purpose of this study is to understand teachers’ lived
experiences working in schools that have had principal turnover.
Procedures: If you agree to be in this study, I would ask you to do the following things:
1. Participate in a one-on-one interview that should last between 45 minutes to one hour. You will have the ability to choose your preferred method of interviewing. This interview will be audio recorded.
2. Participate in an online small group discussion with other teachers in this study. You will be asked to join a WebEx online video conference meeting and actively participate with others for 90 minutes on a designated date. The small group discussion will be audio recorded. If you do not wish to be seen on video, there is an option to call in and only give the group access to the audio on your computer, phone, or other device.
3. Participate in writing a letter to an imaginary teacher. You will be asked to use your imagination and pretend that you have just found out that a teacher you know will be getting a new principal. The letter will ask you to describe your thoughts, emotions, and experiences with principal transitions.
4. Review the transcripts of your interview data and your part in the small group discussion to ensure that they are accurate. This should take about 15 minutes for you to complete.
Risks: The risks involved in this study are minimal, no more than you would encounter in
everyday life.
The Liberty University Institutional Review Board has approved
this document for use from 5/29/2019 to -- Protocol # 3802.052919
Benefits: Participants should not expect to receive a direct benefit from taking part in this study.
However, you may benefit from participating in a small group discussion with other teachers who have experienced principal turnover. The field of education may benefit from the results of this study by gaining a better understanding of how teachers experience principal turnover.
Compensation: Participants will receive a $35 Amazon gift card once their interview, focus
group, and letter are complete.
Confidentiality: The records of this study will be kept private. In any sort of report I might
publish, I will not include any information that will make it possible to identify a subject.
Research records will be stored securely and only the researcher will have access to the records. Each participant will be assigned a pseudonym to protect his/her identity. Interviews will
be conducted in a location where others cannot easily overhear.
Interviews and small group discussions will be recorded and transcribed. Recordings will be stored on a password locked computer for three years and then erased. Only the researcher will have access to these recordings.
Data will be stored on a password locked computer and may be used in future presentations. After three years, all electronic records will be deleted.
I cannot assure participants that other members of the small group will not share what was discussed with persons outside of the group.
Voluntary Nature of the Study: Participation in this study is voluntary. Your decision whether
or not to participate will not affect your current or future relations with Liberty University. If you decide to participate, you are free to not answer any question or withdraw at any time without affecting those relationships.
How to Withdraw from the Study: If you choose to withdraw from the study, please contact
the researcher at the email address included in the next paragraph. Should you choose to withdraw, data collected from you, apart from small group discussion data, will be destroyed immediately and will not be included in this study. Small group discussion data will not be destroyed, but your contributions to the small group discussion will not be included in the study if you choose to withdraw.
Contacts and Questions: The researcher conducting this study is Carrie Link. You may ask any
questions you have now. If you have questions later, you are encouraged to contact her at [email protected]. You may also contact the researcher’s faculty advisor, Dr. Gail Collins at [email protected].
If you have any questions or concerns regarding this study and would like to talk to someone other than the researcher, you are encouraged to contact the Institutional Review Board, 1971 University Blvd, Green Hall 2845, Lynchburg, VA 24515 or email at [email protected].
Review Board has approved this document for use from
5/29/2019 to -- Protocol # 3802.052919
Please notify the researcher if you would like a copy of this information to keep for your records.
Statement of Consent: I have read and understood the above information. I have asked
questions and have received answers. I consent to participate in the study.
The researcher has my permission to audio-record me as part of my participation in this study.
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Signature Date
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Signature of Investigator Date
The Liberty University Institutional Review Board has approved
this document for use from 5/29/2019 to -- Protocol # 3802.052919