Invitation to participate
You are invited to participate in a 10 minute survey about how children in your home are communicating during COVID-19.

What is the purpose of this research?
We are hoping to learn more about types of support caregivers are receiving for their children, including children with communication disorders. We would also like to know how changes due to COVID-19 have impacted the way your child communicates. We are seeking to understand the challenges and needs of the caregivers, and the support they wish to receive during this time. This understanding can help teachers, clinicians and specialists to provide support that better meet your child’s needs.

Who is carrying out this research?
The principal investigator for this project is Dr. Andrea MacLeod, Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of Alberta. This data collection and research project has been approved by the REB of the University of Alberta.

What is involved?
Your participation is entirely voluntary. If you choose to participate, you will complete a short (10 minute) online survey that about how children in your home are communicating during COVID-19, the supports they are receiving, and the wins and challenges you face. You do not have to answer questions that you do not want to answer.

Benefits & Risks
While there are no direct personal benefits to participation, there are no anticipated risks.

Confidentiality and Anonymity
The information that you will share will remain strictly confidential and will be used solely for the purposes of this research. The only people who will have access to the research data are Dr. Andrea MacLeod and her research lab members. No personal or identifying information will be collected in this survey. The University of Alberta Research Ethics Board always has the right to review the data.

Data Storage
Electronic copies of the survey will be encrypted and stored on a password- protected computer in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Alberta.

Voluntary Participation
You are under no obligation to participate and if you choose to participate, you may refuse to answer questions that you do not want to answer. Should you choose to withdraw midway through the electronic survey simply close the link and no responses will be included.  Given the anonymous nature of the survey, once you have submitted your responses it will no longer be possible to withdraw them from the study.

Contact Information
If you have any questions or require more information about the study itself, you may contact the researcher at the following email address: multilingualfamilieslab@ualberta.ca.  
 
The plan for this study has been reviewed by a Research Ethics Board at the University of Alberta.  If you have any questions regarding your rights as a research participant or how the research is being conducted you may contact the Research Ethics Office at 780-492-2615.
 
Please download the PDF from this link to for your records:
https://bilingualacquisition.ca/participate-in-our-studies/
 
What if I have other questions?
If you have any questions please contact us:
Prof Andrea MacLeod
andrea.a.n.macleod@ualberta.ca