Research Development as a Profession at Illinois
Research development seeks to position individuals, teams, and organizations for pursuit of opportunities to finance and conduct research, enact educational initiatives, support and present the arts, and facilitate community service. Research development is a relatively new area of professional practice in and outside of higher education; we are interested in finding out more about research development at UIUC.
You have been asked to fill out a membership survey to update/inform the Research Development Community at UIUC about your role and provide more information about your experiences and background as a research development professional. The Research Development Community (RDC) will use this information for operational purposes, including but not limited to outreach, event planning, professional development planning, etc. As part of this, we are inviting all respondents to consent to share their survey data with the RDC Membership Subcommittee for research purposes. The research team may use the combined de-identified data from the survey to produce articles and presentations, share information with other research development professionals/organizations, and share with campus administrators for purposes of informing the campus-wide research enterprise. The research team will not have access to your personal information, such as name or email. Only the RDC administrators will have access to this information, which they will use to invite you to RDC-sponsored events, etc.
You are being asked to participate in a voluntary research study as you are a current member of the RDC at UIUC, or you are looking to join the RDC at UIUC. The purpose of this study is to learn more about positions at UIUC that involve research development duties. This includes information about how people in roles with research development activities engage with the broader research development community, their experience as research development professionals, and their background (personal, educational, and work).
Participating in this study will involve completing one online survey and your participation will last approximately 15-20 minutes. Risks related to this research include loss of confidentiality or data breach; there are no direct benefits related to this research, though data will be used to plan events, professional development opportunities, etc., for the Research Development Community at UIUC. The alternative to participating in this study is to complete the survey and not consent to share your data for research purposes.
Principal Investigator
Name and Title: Gillian Snyder, Senior Director for Research and Core Development and Research Development Community Membership Subcommittee Co-Chair
Department and Institution: Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Institute
Contact Information: 217-300-6709 or gcooke@illinois.edu
Why am I being asked?
You are being asked to be a participant in a research study about "Research Development as a Profession at Illinois". The purpose of this research is to learn more about positions at UIUC that include research development duties. You have been asked to participate in this research because you are a current member of the RDC at UIUC, or you considering joining the RDC at UIUC. Approximately 500 participants will be involved in this research at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Your participation in this research is voluntary. Your decision whether to participate and share your survey answers will not affect your current or future dealings with the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign, or the Research Development Community. If you decide to participate in this study, you are free to withdraw at any time without affecting that relationship.
What procedures are involved?
The study procedures involve filling out one online survey about your role at UIUC, including information about your experiences and background as a research development professional.
This research will be performed throughout the Spring and Summer of 2023 for current members of the Research Development Community. The survey will be available until further notice for people who wish to register as new members of the Research Development Community.
What are the potential risks and discomforts?
Risks related to this research include loss of confidentiality or data breach, though data will be collected in REDCap which is HIPAA-compliant and one of the most secure data collection methods on campus; and only de-identified data will be downloaded to BOX for research purposes. Your contact information may be used to invite you to RDC events, training opportunities, etc., but the research team will not have access to this information, only the RDC admin team will.
Are there benefits to participating in the research?
There are no direct benefits related to this research, though data will be used to plan events, professional development opportunities, etc., for the Research Development Community at UIUC.
What other options are there?
The alternative to participating in this study is to complete the survey and not consent to share your data for research purposes.
Will my study-related information be kept confidential?
The research team, and others with permission or authority to see your study information will maintain its confidentiality to the extent permitted and required by laws and university policies. The names or personal identifiers of participants will not be shared with the research team, published, or presented, and will be kept separate from your survey responses. The research team will not have access to this personal information We will not share your responses with your supervisor, unit head, HR representative, etc.
Will I be reimbursed for any expenses or paid for my participation in this research?
You will not be offered payment for being in this study.
Can I withdraw or be removed from the study?
If you decide to participate, you are free to withdraw your consent to share your data for research purposes and discontinue participation at any time.
Will data collected from me be used for any other research?
Your de-identified information could be used for future research without additional informed consent.
Who should I contact if I have questions?
Contact the research lead, Gillian Snyder, Senior Director for Research and Core Development and Research Development Community Membership Subcommittee Co-Chair, at 217-300-6709 or gcooke@illinois.edu if you have any questions about this study or your part in it, or if you have concerns or complaints about the research.
What are my rights as a research subject?
If you have any questions about your rights as a research subject, including concerns, complaints, or to offer input, you may call the Office for the Protection of Research Subjects (OPRS) at 217-333-2670 or email OPRS at irb@illinois.edu. If you would like to complete a brief survey to provide OPRS feedback about your experiences as a research participant, please go to the OPRS website: https://oprs.research.illinois.edu/. You will have the option to provide feedback or concerns anonymously or you may provide your name and contact information for follow-up purposes.
I have read the above information. I have been given an opportunity to ask questions and my questions have been answered to my satisfaction. I agree to participate in this research. I will be given a copy of this signed and dated form.