A.1. Goodreads Moderators
A.1.1. Invitation Letter
Subject: Would like your group to participate in a research study on Goodreads and its role in communities
Hi, my name is Adam Worrall, and I am a doctoral candidate at the Florida State University School of Library and Information Studies. I’d like your permission, as group moderator, to include the [Group Name] group as part of a research study of Goodreads and its role in groups and communities.
The purpose of this study is to look at the roles digital libraries, such as Goodreads, play in the groups and communities their users are part of. I am interested in your members’ use of Goodreads as individuals and in interactions with others in groups and communities. I would like to collect data in three ways:
- Messages posted to the group’s discussion boards
- A survey of users of and visitors to the group, via an invitation posted to the group’s discussion board
- Interviews with a subset of survey respondents
This data will allow me to see the roles the site serves for group users and other, broader communities of users, and should improve our understanding of how these sites and other digital libraries can relate to groups and communities. The study is being conducted independently of but with the consent of Goodreads.
Completing this research will have minimal risks to you and members of your group as participants, believed to be no more than the risks you experience in everyday life. By participating you and members of your group may benefit indirectly, as users of a digital library, from improved digital library design, usability, services, and an overall better understanding of the social elements of digital libraries. Those users who participate in and complete the survey will be entered into a drawing for one of ten $25 gift cards. They may choose between gift cards from three bookstores: Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, and Books-A-Million. Moderators, as users of the group, may also take part in all phases of the study, complete the survey, and be entered into the drawing.
I’ve included a link below to an informed consent statement, which I invite you to read carefully. If you agree to having your group be part of this study, click the "I consent" button at the bottom of the statement. Before doing so, however, please feel free to contact me via e-mail at [My FSU e-mail address] should you have any questions. Thank you in advance for your participation!
[link to informed consent here]
Adam Worrall
Doctoral Candidate, Florida State University
School of Library and Information Studies
College of Communication and Information
[My FSU e-mail address]
A.1.2. Informed Consent Statement
FSU Behavioral Consent Form
"The Roles of Digital Libraries as Boundary Objects Within and Across Social and Information Worlds"
You and your group, [Group Name], are invited to be in a research study of Goodreads and its role in groups and communities. You and members of your group were selected as possible participants because you were listed as one of the more popular groups on the Goodreads site. I ask you to read this form and ask any questions you may have before agreeing to be in the study.
This study is being conducted by Adam Worrall, a doctoral candidate at the Florida State University School of Library and Information Studies, under the supervision of Dr. Michelle M. Kazmer, an associate professor at the School. The study is being conducted independently of but with the consent of Goodreads.
Background Information:
The purpose of this study is to look at the roles digital libraries play in the groups and communities their users are part of. Goodreads is one example of a digital library, providing content and services to its users through an organization. I am interested in your members’ use of Goodreads as individuals and in interactions with others in groups and communities. I would collect data in three ways:
- Messages posted to the group’s discussion boards
- A survey of users of and visitors to the group, via an invitation posted to the group’s discussion board
- Interviews with a subset of survey respondents
This data will allow me to see the roles the site serves for group users and other, broader communities of users, and should improve our understanding of how these sites and other digital libraries can relate to groups and communities.
Procedures:
If you agree that your group can be in this study, I would post an invitation letter in your group’s discussion board inviting members of your group (including yourself) to complete a short online survey, which asks about their experience with, and use of, Goodreads as an individual and as part of groups and communities. If they choose to participate, they will be presented with a list of statements about the site and their use of it, and asked if they agree or disagree with each one. They will be asked for basic demographic and usage information at the end of the survey. The survey should take users no more than 15–20 minutes to complete. After data collection for the survey is complete, a selection of those who completed it will be invited via e-mail to participate in a follow-up interview with me, where I would ask about their experience with and use of Goodreads as an individual and as part of groups and communities. Individual consent will be obtained from all participating users prior to their completion of the survey and before taking part in an interview.
Risks and benefits of being in the Study:
Completing this research will have minimal risks to you and members of your group as participants, believed to be no more than the risks you experience in everyday life. By participating you and members of your group may benefit indirectly, as users of a digital library, from improved digital library design, usability, services, and an overall better understanding of the social elements of digital libraries.
Compensation:
For participating in the survey, members who complete it will be entered into a drawing for 10 $25 gift cards. They may choose between gift cards from three bookstores: Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, and Books-A-Million. This random drawing will take place after the conclusion of the survey data collection. Members must complete the survey questionnaire and provide their e-mail address to be entered into the drawing.
Confidentiality:
The records of this study will be kept private and confidential to the extent permitted by law. In any sort of report I might publish, I will not include any information making it possible to identify you, group members, or other participants. Research records will be stored securely and only the researcher, Adam Worrall, will have access to the records. All research records will be wiped, deleted, or shredded five years after completion of the survey or interview or April 30th, 2019, whichever is sooner.
Members e-mail addresses, collected at the end of the survey, may be used to send a gift card if they are selected in the drawing. At the end of the survey, they will be asked if I may contact them via e-mail for a possible follow-up interview. Their e-mail addresses will remain confidential and will not be used for other purposes.
Voluntary Nature of the Study:
Participation in this study is voluntary. Your decision to participate or not will not affect your current or future relations with Florida State University, Goodreads, or any other site, institution, or organization. If you decide to participate, you and members of your group are free to not answer any question or withdraw at any time without affecting those relationships.
Contacts and Questions:
The researcher conducting this study is Adam Worrall, a doctoral candidate, under the supervision of Dr. Michelle M. Kazmer, an associate professor, of the Florida State University School of Library and Information Studies. If you have any questions, you are encouraged to contact me via e-mail at [My FSU e-mail address] or via phone at [mobile phone number], or Dr. Kazmer via e-mail at [FSU e-mail address] or via phone at [mobile phone number].
If you have any questions or concerns about this study and would like to talk to someone other than the researcher, you are encouraged to contact the FSU Institutional Review Board (IRB) at 2010 Levy Street, Research Building B, Suite 276, Tallahassee, FL 32306–2742, or (850) 644–8633, or by email at humansubjects@magnet.fsu.edu.
I encourage you to print a copy of this information to keep for your records, or you may always access it at [permanent URL].
Statement of Consent:
I have read the above information. I have asked questions and have received answers. By clicking the "I consent" button below, I consent for my group to participate in the study.
A.2. Survey
A.2.1. Invitation Letters for Users
A.2.1.1. Letter
Subject: Online survey for a research study of [LibraryThing / Goodreads] and its role in communities
Hi, my name is Adam Worrall, and I am a doctoral candidate at the Florida State University School of Library and Information Studies. I’d like to invite you, a member of the [Group Name] group on [LibraryThing / Goodreads], to complete an online survey for a research study of [LibraryThing / Goodreads] and its role in groups and communities. You can take the survey by clicking on the following link:
[link to survey here]
The purpose of this study is to look at the roles digital libraries, such as [LibraryThing / Goodreads], play in the groups and communities their users are part of. I am interested in your use of [LibraryThing / Goodreads] as an individual and in your interactions with others in groups and communities. Your survey responses will help me to see the roles the site serves for you, other users, and broader communities of users, and should improve our understanding of how these sites and other digital libraries can relate to groups and communities. The study is being conducted independently of [LibraryThing / Goodreads].
The survey should take you no more than 15–20 minutes to complete. Completing the survey has minimal risks to you as a participant, believed to be no more than the risks you experience in everyday life. By participating you may benefit indirectly, as a user of a digital library, from improved digital library design, usability, services, and an overall better understanding of the social elements of digital libraries. For completing this survey, you will be entered into a drawing for 10 $25 gift cards. You may choose between gift cards from three bookstores: Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, and Books-A-Million.
You can take the survey by clicking on the link below. Please feel free to contact me via e-mail at [My FSU e-mail address] should you have any questions. Thank you in advance for your participation!
[link to survey here]
Adam Worrall
Doctoral Candidate, Florida State University
School of Library and Information Studies
College of Communication and Information
[My FSU e-mail address]
A.2.1.2. Reminder
Subject: Reminder of an online survey on [LibraryThing / Goodreads] and its role in communities
Hi, my name is Adam Worrall, and I am a doctoral candidate at the Florida State University School of Library and Information Studies. I’d like to remind you, a member of the [Group Name] group on [LibraryThing / Goodreads], of an invitation to complete an online survey for a research study of [LibraryThing / Goodreads] and its role in groups and communities. If you have already taken the survey, I thank you for your participation and help! You need not read this e-mail further. If you have not taken the survey, you may do so by clicking on the following link:
[link to survey here]
To remind you, the purpose of this study is to look at the roles digital libraries, such as [LibraryThing / Goodreads], play in the groups and communities their users are part of. I am interested in your use of [LibraryThing / Goodreads] as an individual and in your interactions with others in groups and communities. Your survey responses will help me to see the roles the site serves for you, other users, and broader communities of users, and should improve our understanding of how these sites and other digital libraries can relate to groups and communities. The study is being conducted independently of [LibraryThing / Goodreads].
The survey should take you no more than 15–20 minutes to complete. Completing the survey has minimal risks to you as a participant, believed to be no more than the risks you experience in everyday life. By participating you may benefit indirectly, as a user of a digital library, from improved digital library design, usability, services, and an overall better understanding of the social elements of digital libraries. For completing this survey, you will be entered into a drawing for 10 $25 gift cards. You may choose between gift cards from three bookstores: Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, and Books-A-Million.
You can take the survey by clicking on the link below. Please feel free to contact me via e-mail at [My FSU e-mail address] should you have any questions. Thank you in advance for your participation!
[link to survey here]
Adam Worrall
Doctoral Candidate, Florida State University
School of Library and Information Studies
College of Communication and Information
[My FSU e-mail address]
A.2.2. Invitation Posts for Groups
(Note: For the groups, the invitation post was the same for the initial invitation and for the reminders.)
Subject: Online survey for a research study on [LibraryThing / Goodreads] and its role in communities
Hi, my name is Adam Worrall, and I am a doctoral candidate at the Florida State University School of Library and Information Studies. I’d like to invite all members of and visitors to [Group Name] to complete an online survey for a research study of [LibraryThing / Goodreads] and its role in groups and communities. You can take the survey by clicking on the following link:
[link to survey here]
The purpose of this study is to look at the roles digital libraries, such as [LibraryThing / Goodreads], play in the groups and communities their users are part of. I am interested in your use of [LibraryThing / Goodreads] as an individual and in your interactions with others in groups and communities. Your survey responses will help me to see the roles the site serves for you, other users, and broader communities of users, and should improve our understanding of how these sites and other digital libraries can relate to groups and communities. The study is being conducted independently of [LibraryThing / Goodreads].
The survey should take you no more than 15–20 minutes to complete. Completing the survey has minimal risks to you as a participant, believed to be no more than the risks you experience in everyday life. By participating you may benefit indirectly, as a user of a digital library, from improved digital library design, usability, services, and an overall better understanding of the social elements of digital libraries. For completing this survey, you will be entered into a drawing for 10 $25 gift cards. You may choose between gift cards from three bookstores: Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, and Books-A-Million.
You can take the survey by clicking on the link below. Please feel free to contact me via e-mail at [My FSU e-mail address] should you have any questions. Thank you in advance for your participation!
[link to survey here]
Adam Worrall
Doctoral Candidate, Florida State University
School of Library and Information Studies
College of Communication and Information
[My FSU e-mail address]
A.2.3. Informed Consent Statement
FSU Behavioral Consent Form
"The Roles of Digital Libraries as Boundary Objects Within and Across Social and Information Worlds"
You are invited to be in a research study of [LibraryThing / Goodreads] and its role in groups and communities. You were selected as a possible participant because you visited or are a member of a group on the [LibraryThing / Goodreads] site. I ask you to read this form and ask any questions you may have before agreeing to be in the study.
This study is being conducted by Adam Worrall, a doctoral candidate at the Florida State University School of Library and Information Studies, under the supervision of Dr. Michelle M. Kazmer, an associate professor at the School. The study is being conducted independently of [LibraryThing / Goodreads].
Background Information:
The purpose of this study is to look at the roles digital libraries play in the groups and communities their users are part of. [LibraryThing / Goodreads] is one example of a digital library, providing content and services to its users through an organization. I am interested in your use of [LibraryThing / Goodreads] as an individual and in your interactions with others in communities. These communities may be based in a common activity, occupation, interest, topic, location, or other common thread, and include the [LibraryThing / Goodreads] groups you frequent. Your responses will help me to see the roles the site serves for you, other users, and broader communities of users, and should improve our understanding of how these sites and other digital libraries can relate to groups and communities.
Procedures:
If you agree to be in this study, you would complete a short online survey questionnaire, which asks about your experience with and use of [LibraryThing / Goodreads] as an individual and as part of groups and communities. You will be presented with a list of statements about the site and your use of it, and asked if you agree or disagree with each one. You will be asked for basic demographic and usage information at the end of the survey. I estimate the survey should take you no more than 15–20 minutes to complete. You will have until [date of survey end] to complete the survey questionnaire.
Risks and benefits of being in the Study:
The study has minimal risks to you as a participant, believed to be no more than the risks you experience in everyday life. By participating you may benefit indirectly, as a user of a digital library, from improved digital library design, usability, services, and an overall better understanding of the social elements of digital libraries.
Compensation:
For participating in this survey, you will be entered into a drawing for 10 $25 gift cards. You may choose between gift cards from three bookstores: Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, and Books-A-Million. This random drawing will take place after [date of survey end]. You must complete the survey questionnaire and provide your e-mail address to be entered into the drawing.
Confidentiality:
The records of this study will be kept private and confidential to the extent permitted by law. In any sort of report I might publish, we will not include any information making it possible to identify you or other participants. Research records will be stored securely and only the researcher, Adam Worrall, will have access to the records. All research records will be wiped, deleted, or shredded five years after your completion of the survey or April 30th, 2019, whichever is sooner.
Your e-mail address, collected at the end of the survey, may be used to send a gift card if you are selected in the drawing. At the end of the survey, you will be asked if I may contact you via e-mail for a possible follow-up interview. Your e-mail address will remain confidential and will not be used for other purposes.
Voluntary Nature of the Study:
Participation in this study is voluntary. Your decision to participate or not will not affect your current or future relations with Florida State University, [LibraryThing / Goodreads], or any other site, institution, or organization. If you decide to participate, you are free to not answer any question or withdraw at any time without affecting those relationships.
Contacts and Questions:
The researcher conducting this study is Adam Worrall, a doctoral candidate, under the supervision of Dr. Michelle M. Kazmer, an associate professor, of the Florida State University School of Library and Information Studies. If you have any questions, you are encouraged to contact me via e-mail at [My FSU e-mail address] or via phone at [mobile phone number], or Dr. Kazmer via e-mail at [FSU e-mail address] or via phone at [mobile phone number].
If you have any questions or concerns about this study and would like to talk to someone other than the researcher, you are encouraged to contact the FSU Institutional Review Board (IRB) at 2010 Levy Street, Research Building B, Suite 276, Tallahassee, FL 32306–2742, or (850) 644–8633, or by email at humansubjects@magnet.fsu.edu.
I encourage you to print a copy of this information to keep for your records, or you may always access it at [permanent URL].
Statement of Consent:
I have read the above information. I have asked questions and have received answers. By clicking the "Next" button below, I confirm that I am at least 18 years old and consent to participate in the study.
A.3. Interviews
A.3.1. Invitation Letter
Subject: Follow-up interview on [LibraryThing / Goodreads] and its role in communities
Hi, my name is Adam Worrall, and I am a doctoral candidate at the Florida State University School of Library and Information Studies. You previously completed an online survey for a research study of [LibraryThing / Goodreads] and its role in groups and communities, and agreed I could contact you for follow-up research. I’d now like to invite you to participate in a follow-up interview to further discuss your use of [LibraryThing / Goodreads] as an individual and in your interactions with others in groups and communities.
To remind you, the purpose of this study is to look at the roles digital libraries, such as [LibraryThing / Goodreads], play in the communities their users are part of. These communities may be based in a common activity, occupation, interest, topic, location, or other common thread, and include the [LibraryThing / Goodreads] groups you frequent. Your responses to interview questions will help me to see the roles the site serves for you, other users, and broader communities of users, and should improve our understanding of how these sites and other digital libraries can relate to groups and communities. The study is being conducted independently of [LibraryThing / Goodreads].
If you agree to take part, I will interview you and ask you about your experience with and use of [LibraryThing / Goodreads] as an individual and as part of groups and communities. The interview would take about an hour, using your choice of online audiovisual media (Skype, Google Plus Hangouts, or Apple FaceTime) or telephone. With your explicit permission, the interview will be audio recorded using computer software. Being interviewed has minimal risks to you as a participant, believed to be no more than the risks you experience in everyday life. By participating you may benefit indirectly, as a user of a digital library, from improved digital library design, usability, services, and an overall better understanding of the social elements of digital libraries. You may directly benefit from reflecting on your experience with and use of [LibraryThing / Goodreads] as part of the interview.
Records of your interview and your identity will be kept private and confidential to the extent permitted by law. Research records will be stored securely and only I, Adam Worrall, will have access to the records.
Would you be willing to be interviewed? If so, please reply to this e-mail with your preference of media, and we can work on setting up when the interview will take place. If you have any questions, please ask them in your reply. Thank you in advance for your participation!
Adam Worrall
Doctoral Candidate, Florida State University
School of Library and Information Studies
College of Communication and Information
[My FSU e-mail address]
A.3.2. Informed Consent Statement
FSU Behavioral Consent Form
"The Roles of Digital Libraries as Boundary Objects Within and Across Social and Information Worlds"
You are invited to be in a research study of [LibraryThing / Goodreads] and its role in groups and communities. You were selected as a possible participant because you visited or are a member of a group on the [LibraryThing / Goodreads] site, and previously completed a survey questionnaire and provided your e-mail address for a potential follow-up interview. I ask you to read this form and ask any questions you may have before agreeing to be in this phase of the study.
This study is being conducted by Adam Worrall, a doctoral candidate at the Florida State University School of Library and Information Studies, under the supervision of Dr. Michelle M. Kazmer, an associate professor at the School. The study is being conducted independently of [LibraryThing / Goodreads].
Background Information:
The purpose of this study is to look at the roles digital libraries play in the groups and communities their users are part of. [LibraryThing / Goodreads] is one example of a digital library, providing content and services to its users through an organization. I am interested in your use of [LibraryThing / Goodreads] as an individual and in your interactions with others in communities. These communities may be based in a common activity, occupation, interest, topic, location, or other common thread, and include the [LibraryThing / Goodreads] groups you frequent. Your responses to interview questions will help me to see the roles the site serves for you, other users, and broader communities of users, and should improve our understanding of how these sites and other digital libraries can relate to groups and communities.
Procedures:
If you agree to be in this study, you would participate in an interview with me where I would ask about your experience with and use of [LibraryThing / Goodreads] as an individual and as part of groups and communities. The interview will take place using your choice of online audiovisual media or telephone. If you select the online option, the interview may take place using Skype, Google Plus Hangouts, or Apple FaceTime at your choosing. I estimate the interview will take about an hour to complete. With your explicit permission, the interview will be audio recorded using computer software.
Risks and benefits of being in the Study:
The study has minimal risks to you as a participant, believed to be no more than the risks you experience in everyday life. By participating you may benefit indirectly, as a user of a digital library, from improved digital library design, usability, services, and an overall better understanding of the social elements of digital libraries. You may directly benefit from reflecting on your experience with and use of [LibraryThing / Goodreads] as part of the interview.
Confidentiality:
The records of this study will be kept private and confidential to the extent permitted by law. In any sort of report I might publish, we will not include any information making it possible to identify you or other participants. Research records, including the audio recording, transcript, and interviewer’s notes will be stored securely and only the researcher, Adam Worrall, will have access to the records. All research records will be wiped, deleted, or shredded five years after the completion of this interview or April 30th, 2019, whichever is sooner.
Voluntary Nature of the Study:
Participation in this study is voluntary. Your decision to participate or not will not affect your current or future relations with Florida State University, [LibraryThing / Goodreads], or any other site, institution, or organization. If you decide to participate, you are free to not answer any question or withdraw at any time without affecting those relationships.
Contacts and Questions:
The researcher conducting this study is Adam Worrall, a doctoral candidate, under the supervision of Dr. Michelle M. Kazmer, an associate professor, of the Florida State University School of Library and Information Studies. You may ask any questions you have at the beginning of the interview. If you have a question later, you are encouraged to contact me via e-mail at [My FSU e-mail address] or via phone at [mobile phone number], or Dr. Kazmer via e-mail at [FSU e-mail address] or via phone at [mobile phone number].
If you have any questions or concerns about this study and would like to talk to someone other than the researcher(s), you are encouraged to contact the FSU Institutional Review Board (IRB) at 2010 Levy Street, Research Building B, Suite 276, Tallahassee, FL 32306–2742, or (850) 644–8633, or by email at humansubjects@magnet.fsu.edu.
I encourage you to print a copy of this information to keep for your records, or you may always access it at [permanent URL].
Statement of Consent:
I have read the above information. I have asked questions and have received answers. By clicking the "Provide Consent" button below, I consent to participate in the study.