Parent Information Sheet

Title of Study:

The attitudes held by parents towards secondary students’ use of digital learning technologies

in schools.

Chief Researcher:

Deearna Serafino

Honours Student – School of Occupational Therapy and Social Work

Curtin University

deearna.serafino@student.curtin.edu.au

+618 92663683

Research Supervisor:

Dr Courtenay Harris

Senior Lecturer – School of Occupational Therapy and Social Work

Curtin University

c.harris@curtin.edu.au

+618 92663683

Dear Parent,

My name is Deearna Serafino. I am a Curtin University honours student supervised by Dr.

Courtenay Harris and Associate Professor Dr. Marina Ciccarelli. I am seeking your help for a

study on parent's attitudes towards the use of technology by their child or children in

secondary school. We ask that you access an online survey that will ask you questions about

what you think, your perspective and how strongly you agree or disagree with statements

about technology and the internet. The survey will take approximately twenty minutes and

can be completed at a time that best suits you.

What is this study about?

It is understood that technology is becoming increasingly used in the classroom and especially

used within the secondary school classroom. Supported by government funding and

initiatives, technology may be used more and more in a child’s daily life and throughout their

education. Parents’ attitudes towards technology in secondary school are not yet well

understood. Through this study we hope to better understand what you think as parents about

technology use at school and whether or not you feel confident to support your children in

their technology use. This will give schools a better understanding about how they can

support you and your child’s education.

Who can be involved?

Both male and female parents of secondary school children enrolled in Western Australian

catholic high schools can voluntarily complete the online survey. Parents in the one family are

able to complete the survey as individuals.

Faculty of Health Sciences

School of Occupational Therapy and Social

Work

What do you need to do?

This URL https://curtin.asia.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_6J8JI7i3s1lx6qF will provide

you with access to the online survey. When you have typed the URL into your computer you

will be met with a page that asks for a password. Please enter the password ‘parent2014’.

You will then be met with a page asking for your consent. Once you have given your consent

you will be able to complete the online questionnaire. The survey is anonymous and will ask

you information about your postcode, your employment, your age and your child’s age, year

level in school and school attended. No other personal information will be asked. The rest of

the survey will ask you questions about what you think about children’s use of technology

and you will be asked to tick boxes in response. This will take approximately 20 minutes.

Data you provide will be anonymous and will be collected and stored securely on the survey’s

database. The chief researcher and research supervisor will have access to the data collected.

At the conclusion of the project, the data will be written up as an Honours thesis, and

submitted in article format to a peer-reviewed journal. Further publication and presentation

may occur. However, no identifying information will be available or included.

Risks, discomfort and benefits

There is no harm, cost or discomfort to you. All that is required of you is your time and your

use of the Internet. There are also no direct benefits to you, other than your ability to assist in

furthering the understanding of parents attitudes towards secondary school technology.

Will your responses be kept confidential?

All of the surveys are anonymous and there will be no identifying data provided. The names

of your child’s school will remain anonymous, and will be allocated a number code to be used

during data analysis.

Can I withdraw from the study?

If you feel that you want to withdraw from the study, or do not want to complete the online

survey, please do not continue with the online survey or do not submit your answers. Close

the URL link and your results will not be submitted. As the survey is anonymous we will not

be able to identify you or know if you have withdrawn from the study.

What if I want more information on the study?

If you require any further information about this study please contact the chief researcher and

your questions will be answered. Once this research has been completed a report will be given

to your child’s school for the school communities information.

Sincerely,

Deearna Serafino

Co-investigator

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND ASSISTANCE

This study has been approved by the Curtin University Human Research Ethics Committee (OTSW-18-2013). If

needed, verification of approval can be obtained either by writing to the Curtin University Human Research

Ethics Committee, c/ Office of Research and Development, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth, 6845, or

by telephoning 9266 2784 or emailing hrec@curtin.edu.au