User Survey: Web mapping for Canadian Historical GIS
Information and consent form

Principal investigator: Marcel Fortin,
Head, Map and Data Library,
University of Toronto
130 St George St, 5th Floor
416-978-1958 email: marcel.fortin@utoronto.ca

Project manager: Byron Moldofsky
Manager, GIS and Cartography Office
Department of Geography and Planning
100 St george St, 5th floor
416-978-3378 email: byron@geog.utoronto.ca

DESCRIPTION OF THE RESEARCH
You are invited to participate in a research study about using web mapping for historical research. This is part of a larger project to develop resources for conducting historical research in Canada using GIS (Geographic Information Systems) and other methods, and to explore ways of publishing the results of that research. A prevalent and popular method for doing this is through online mapping technologies. However, many different design approaches and software solutions are being used. The purpose of this study is to investigate current and emerging trends in the use of these technologies, and evaluate users’ experiences and needs, and future desires.

WHAT WILL MY PARTICIPATION INVOLVE
If you agree to participate in this research, you will be asked to respond to a series of questions about historical web mapping through an online form. It will take approximately 10-20 minutes to complete the survey.

WHO IS PARTICIPATING
You are being asked to participate because of your interest in this subject – whether conceptual or technical. You may have used, or may wish to use these kinds of technologies for presentation or exploration of historical information. All potential users are relevant, whether primarily consumers, creators or designers of historical geographic web maps. Adult members of the academic, non-academic, government and commercial communities are eligible to participate. We expect in the range of 50 to 100 volunteers to participate.

HOW WILL MY CONFIDENTIALITY BE PROTECTED
You will be asked for your name and email identification, to confirm you are a valid participant for the survey. You may be emailed for validation purposes. This information will be destroyed as soon as validation is confirmed. No identifiable personal information will be included or retained in the data, and all data will be collected and stored in a secure environment. Only the project investigator, manager and research assistant will have access to the data. The data will be destroyed at the end of the project (2017.) We anticipate using some direct quotations from responses as representative examples of user opinion, but in the event we directly quote any of your responses, your anonymity will be protected as no identifiable characteristics will included.

HOW WILL THE RESULTS OF THE STUDY BE USED
The results of the study will be published in aggregate form, as tables or charts illustrating responses. Publication will be in a summary report made available on the project website, and parts of the results may be included in subsequent reports, articles or presentations. These results will inform future plans for web-based resources to be developed by the project.

RISKS/BENEFITS
Risk to the participants are minimal. No personally identifying information will be retained linked to any of the collected data. Thus, there are no foreseeable physical or mental risks to participation. It is hoped and expected that participants will benefit from the insight gained about using these technologies, in the short term by reading the reports, and in the long-term by the success of the project in making it easier and more effective to design and use web-base historical maps, in Canada and beyond.

VOLUNTARY NATURE OF PARTICIPATION AND OPTION TO WITHDRAW
Your participation in this survey is entirely voluntary, and you may refuse to participate, or may decline to answer any question or participate in any parts of the survey – without any negative consequences. You responses are not recorded until the online form is submitted, so you may withdraw at any time during the survey. After submitting the survey, you may withdraw participation by contacting the study authors by email or telephone, up until the time that your identification data has been removed from your survey responses. Withdrawal at any time will have no negative consequences of any kind.

WHOM SHOULD I CONTACT IF I HAVE QUESTIONS?
If you have questions about the research itself, please contact the principal investigator Marcel Fortin or project manager Byron Moldofsky, as listed above.

If you have any questions about your rights as a participant, please contact the Research Oversight and Compliance Office – Human Research Ethics Program at the University of Toronto, by email (ethics.review@utoronto.ca) or telephone (416-946-3273).
The research study you are participating in may be reviewed for quality assurance to make sure that the required laws and guidelines are followed. If chosen, (a) representative(s) of the Human Research Ethics Program (HREP) may access study-related data and/or consent materials as part of the review. All information accessed by the HREP will be upheld to the same level of confidentiality that has been stated by the research team.

PROVISION OF CONSENT By clicking the “Consent and Start Survey” button, you agree to participate in this research survey according to the conditions explained above. This includes the possibility of your responses being quoted anonymously in subsequent research publications. Please save this page if you would like a copy of the consent form for your records.
Click here to CONSENT AND START SURVEY

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