When you created your SimBio Active Learning System Account, you chose whether or not to consent to participate in an ongoing research study. You can either add or withdraw your consent at any time as follows:
- Log into your Student Dashboard.
- Click on the
icon in the upper right corner of the Student Dashboard.
- An overlay will appear, click on the "Research Consent" tab.
- You can select either yes or no and then click the "Save changes" button at the bottom of the overlay.
- For more information on what you would be consenting to, you can either scroll down within the overlay or read the information below.
Researchers at SimBio conduct studies on the effectiveness of our software tools and simulations in teaching biological concepts. For this research, we use answers that students submit while using our software. Names are not associated with the research data (that is, all data are de-identified before being used for research).
You are not required to participate in the research, and your decision about participation is not available to your instructor. If you change your mind about participating in the research, you may submit a new answer at any time by accessing this page from the SimUText Student Portal.
To participate in the research, you must be at least 18 years of age.
What is the purpose of this page?
We are asking you to participate in a research study. This page gives you the information you will need to help you decide whether to be in this study. Please read this page carefully. You may email us at research@simbio.com with questions about what we will ask you to do, the risks, the benefits, your rights as a volunteer, or anything else about the research or this page that is not clear. When all of your questions have been answered, you can decide if you want to be in this study or not. You may print a copy of this page for your records by clicking on the button above.
Why is this study being done?
The purpose of this study is to research, develop, and improve computer-based tools and simulations for teaching biological concepts. The researchers hope to use data captured through student use of educational software to develop computer-based tools to improve biology teaching and learning. You are being asked to be in this study because you are in a class that is using software that is part of this study. This study will include 250,000 participants.
What will happen during this study?
If you agree to participate in this study, you will complete the SimBio virtual labs, tutorials, or chapters that are assigned to you as part of your normal classroom activities, and the duration of your participation in the study will be the time it takes you to complete the SimBio software modules that you have been assigned. While all students will be completing the assignments for class credit, and your instructor will have access to all students’ answers, the answers you submit while using the software will only be used in the study and accessible to researchers if you agree to participate. If you agree to participate, your de-identified answers to questions in some of our software modules, as well as participant profiles, pre-tests, and post-tests that may be included in the software modules, will be included in our research database. We will also collect data from digitally recorded actions within some of our software modules, such as changing the parameters of digital simulations.
Does being in this study provide any benefit?
We do not anticipate that you will receive any direct benefit from the study. The research that is done with student answers will help us to understand student learning about biology through computer programs, and help us to develop software tools that enhance student learning.
What are the potential risks of being in the study?
We not anticipate any risks to you associated with this study; however, there is always a possible risk of a loss of confidentiality. To the best of our ability, your answers in this study will remain confidential. We will minimize this risk through the following procedures. All electronic files will be stored on password-protected computers and servers to prevent access by unauthorized users. Your name will be removed from the research data before researchers access it, and you will be identified only by a computer-generated ID code. At the conclusion of this study, the researchers may publish their findings and present them at conferences. You will not be identified in any publications or presentations, and data will be presented in summary format.
Who will have access to your study information?
Research data will be stored in the researchers’ offices at SimBio, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in a locked cabinet, or on a password-protected drive in a computer, and will only be accessible by authorized personnel. Identifying information is not included in the research data. Any information that is obtained in connection with this study and that can be identified with you will remain confidential and will be disclosed only with your permission or as required by law.
Do you have to be in this study?
Your participation in this study is completely voluntary and you are free to choose whether to be in it or not. If you choose to be in this study, you may subsequently withdraw from it at any time without penalty or consequences of any kind. Since you are using this software as part of a class activity, if you agree to participate, your activities will not differ in any way, but we will include your de-identified answers as part of our research data. Your instructor will not be informed of your choice to participate or not participate, and your participation will not in any way impact your grade in the course. De-identified data collected for this study may be used in future similar studies where such data would prove helpful. If you do not wish for your data to be used in future studies, you should decline to participate in this study. The investigator can stop your participation in this study at any time.
Who do you contact if you have questions about the study?
TITLE OF STUDY: Improving Learning Outcomes with Biology Education Software INVESTIGATOR: Eli Meir, PhD SimBio, Cambridge, MA Who do you contact if you have questions about the study? If you have questions or concerns about the study, you can contact Dr. Eli Meir at (617) 314-7701 ext 710; email: research@simbio.com. If you have questions about your rights as a research subject, or other concerns about the research, you can contact NEIRB at 1-800-232-9570. Note that the primary investigator and sub-investigators are all employees of SimBio.
What are you consenting to? (Volunteer’s statement)
If you consent to participate in this study, you should check “yes” to the consent question above, and then click the “Submit” button. You may return to the consent page at any time to change your consent.
If you consent to participate, you are agreeing to the following statements:
I agree that I have been provided with information about this research study. I may contact researchers at if I have any more questions about taking part in this study. My participation in this research project is voluntary. I may quit the study at any time. The investigators in charge of this study may decide at any time that I should no longer participate in this study. By checking “yes” and clicking the “Submit” button above, I have not waived any of my legal rights. By checking “yes” and clicking the “Submit” button above, I agree to participate in this study.