You are invited to participate in a research study conducted by Dr. Jose Padilla (Responsible Project Investigator - RPI), Research Assistant Professor from the Virginia Modeling, Analysis and Simulation Center at Old Dominion University. Dr. Padilla is conducting this research to explore how people build simulations in order to identify potential approaches to facilitate this process. The data collected will give us an idea of on how to design effective functionalities, examples and exercises; design curricula about simulation education; tailor simulation education; and eliminate/reduce barriers of simulation learning by identifying practices that lead to effective simulation building.
Your participation in this study is entirely voluntary.
The purpose of this study is to see how well a cloud-based simulation environment facilitates the process of learning about simulation building. We hope to use what we learn from the study to design effective functionalities, examples and exercises; design curricula about simulation education; tailor simulation education; and eliminate/reduce barriers of simulation learning.
If you volunteer to participate in this study, we will ask you to do the following:
We do not expect any risks, discomforts, or inconveniences due to this study. As any online system, CLOUDES is susceptible to data breaches due to hacking activities which could result on the release of confidential information. To minimize this risk: 1) accounts are safeguarded by user created passwords. The password implementation is consistent with industry standards; 2) the database that stores users’ performance is stored behind ODU’s firewall at VMASC, 3) passwords and unique user identifiers are encrypted, and 4) the system is monitored regularly for suspicious activity. Your participation is voluntary so you can always opt out by going to your profile and uncheck the ACCEPT box.
There are no direct benefits for participation in the study. Indirect benefits are that CLOUDES, as it is, is a free to use tool for building and running simulations. In addition, findings from this research may help us improve the functionalities of the tool for general use and learning purposes.
You will not receive any payment or other compensation for participation in this study. There is also no cost to you for participation.
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. Confidentiality will be maintained by means of a code number to let Dr. Padilla knows who you are. We will not use your name in any of the information we get from this study or in any of the research reports. When the study is finished, we will destroy the list that shows which code number goes with your name.
Information that can identify you individually will not be released to anyone outside the study. Dr. Padilla will, however, use the information collected in scholarly publications like conferences or journals. We also may use any information that we get from this study in any way we think is best for publication or education. Any information we use for publication will not identify you individually.
You can choose whether or not to be in this study. If you volunteer to be in this study, you may withdraw at any time without consequences of any kind. You may also refuse to answer any questions you do not want to answer. There is no penalty if you withdraw from the study and you will not lose any benefits to which you are otherwise entitled. The Old Dominion University Institutional Review Board has reviewed my request to conduct this project. If you have any concerns about your rights in this study, please contact Dr. Goerge Maihafer at 757-683-4520.
If you have any questions or concerns about the research, please feel free to contact:
Dr. Jose Padilla
Research Assistant Professor
Virginia Modeling, Analysis and Simulation Center (VMASC)
Old Dominion University
1030 University Blvd. Suffolk, VA
jpadilla@odu.edu