The following is more detailed information about this study in addition to the information listed above.
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THIS RESEARCH?
As statistical modeling, machine learning, AI, and data science becoming more widely used, we think it’s important that people can understand how those models work, but many of these models can be confusing. Researchers have recently proposed a new algorithm, called “interpretable decision sets”, which they hope will be easy to use so that people can understand why models make the predictions they do. We think it’s important that researchers use models understood by as many people as possible, including teenagers, so our study will help us figure out whether the model is helpful, or too confusing.
HOW LONG WILL MY CHILD TAKE PART IN THIS RESEARCH?
The online questions should take around 20 minutes to complete, and the focus group afterwards should take around 40 minutes, for a total of around one hour.
WHAT CAN I EXPECT IF MY CHILD TAKES PART IN THIS RESEARCH?
This study has two parts, totaling around one hour. The location and timing of the survey and focus groups will be determined by the school at their discretion. The first part is an online portion, where we will teach your child about this new model, and ask them to solve some example questions about data using the model. The tasks are like logic puzzles, and this stage should take around 20 minutes.
We’re really testing to see whether the model is clear and easy to use, so this isn’t a test of your child’s ability.
Some students will be asked if they would be interested in talking to us (Emma and Anna) in a small focus group afterwards, where we’ll ask them what they found easy and hard about the questions, and ask them to describe their thought process as they approached the tasks. This is also optional. We expect that these focus groups will take around 40 minutes.
During the focus group discussion, we’ll use an audio-recording app on our phones so that we can write down afterwards what everyone said. We won’t share the recordings with anyone, and we’ll delete them as soon as we’ve transcribed the conversations. If anybody’s real names are mentioned, we’ll make sure to change these before we write down the quotes to protect participant privacy.
WHAT HAPPENS IF I OR MY CHILD SAY YES, BUT I OR MY CHILD CHANGE OUR MINDS LATER?
Your child can leave the research at any time. If you change your mind about participation after the study has taken place, we will not be able to remove your child’s data from the study because we will not be recording names (so we won’t know which results belong to your child).
IF MY CHILD TAKES PART IN THIS RESEARCH, HOW WILL THEIR PRIVACY BE PROTECTED? WHAT HAPPENS TO THE INFORMATION YOU COLLECT?
We will not record your child’s name or contact information. The only demographic information we will ask is your child’s age. The anonymous information we collect will be analyzed by the research team, and may also later be made available to other researchers who are interested in our results.
WHAT ELSE DO I NEED TO KNOW?
Compensation - If your child takes part in this research study, they will be entered into the draw for a $50 Starbucks gift-card.
WHO CAN I TALK TO?
If you have questions, concerns, or complaints, or think the research has hurt your child, talk to the research team at:
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Anna Davydova (305 613 7834,
avydova@g.harvard.edu)
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Emma Dwight (617 308 4344,
edwight@g.harvard.edu)
This research has been submitted to the Harvard University Area Institutional Review Board (“IRB”). You may talk to them at (617) 496-2847 or
cuhs@harvard.edu if:
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Your questions, concerns, or complaints are not being answered by the research team.
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You cannot reach the research team.
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You want to talk to someone besides the research team.
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You have questions about your child’s rights as a research subject.
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You want to get information or provide input about this research.
