INFORMED CONSENT

Policies and Procedures for informed, consensual participation

Contents:

  1. Rationale for Study/Background Information
  2. What will you be asked to do?
  3. Risks/Benefits and Compensation/Expenses
  4. Access to Information/Confidentiality and Publication of Information
  5. Instructions for providing Informed Consent

1. Rationale for Study/Background Information

     The object of this study is to consider how Electronic Dance Music (EDM) genres (e.g. house, techno, drum'n'bass, etc.) intersect with various identities (e.g. ender, sexuality, ethnicity).
      Although music is often idealized as a "universal language" that is equally accessible and meaningful to everybody, one need only look at a music video channel (MTV, Much Music) or an industry magazine to see that music is closely connected to the politics of identity. EDM has not escaped this either, I believe, although it has escaped study until now; EDM is still an under-researched field in comparison to other types of popular music (or classical music). This study will attempt to contribute to this field by considering the 'genre politics' of EDM in detail.
      I am currently a student of the University of Toronto, registered at the Faculty of Music.

2. What will you be asked to do?

    Having volunteered as consultant, you will be asked to answer questions, which will be delivered to you in the manner of your choosing (email, phone, personal interview, MSN conversation). These questions will address your own identities, your perspective on various genres of EDM and your own experiences related to the first two issues. You have the right to refuse to answer any of the questions. You also have the right to withdraw from the project at any time.
     Since I anticipate that most interviews will be held over e-mail, I cannot give an accurate estimate for the amount of time participation will require. However, I do not think that it will require a significant amount of time, since it will take the form of a short set of questions and a few rounds of follow-up questions.

3. Risks/Benefits and Compensation/Expenses

    At this time, I do not forsee any risks or benefits directly connected to this study (except perhaps a better understanding of your own connection to EDM genres and identities). Also, this study is not funded by any organization and will not be able to offer any monetary compensation for participation. However, I do not anticipate any expenses for participants in this study.

4. Access to Information/Confidentiality and Publication of Information

  1. All records of interviews and correspondence will be kept secure in a locked filing cabinet or password-protected computer.
  2. You will have the opportunity to choose a pseudonym (alias, 'nickname') which will be used in the writing and publication of this paper. All correspondence and files will be labeled with your pseudonym only.
  3. Records will only be reviewed by the researcher (me).
  4. No other consultant will have access to your records.
  5. You have the right to review transcripts and records of correspondence and request that certain information (in part of in whole) not be used. This will be done without any indication of the withdrawal recorded in the final published study.
  6. If you decide to withdraw from the study, all records of contact with the researcher (me) will be destroyed.
  7. You will not be identified by name, address, physical description or any other identifying markers unless full consent is given. The 'default' identification will be a pseudonym.
  8. All of the above procedures will be followed for 3 years, after which all records will be destroyed.

     I intend to present the results of this paper at an academic conference, with the eventual goal of having it published. You will be notified if this paper goes into the publication process, and you will have an opportunity to view a copy of the paper and provide feedback.

5. Instructions for providing Informed Consent

  1. For this to be a truly 'informed' consent, it is important that you have read the above information and understand it completely. If there are any questions, please contact me before giving consent.
  2. If you have read the above document and wish to give consent to participate in the study, send me an email reading as follows:

    "I have read and understood the conditions under which I will participate in this study and give my consent to be a participant.

    Name: [your name here]
    Date: [date]
  3. For the purposes of consent, I would prefer that you use your legal name for this message. It will be kept confidential and separate from any records bearing your pseudonym.

 

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Last Updated: November 17, 2009