Participant Information Sheet
Project Title: Survey of Linguists’ Views on Processes of Language Change Researchers
From the Department of Linguistic and Cultural Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Germany
Prof Russell Gray (Director)
Prof Mattis List (Senior Scientist)
Dr Mary Walworth (Senior Scientist)
From the University of Auckland, New Zealand
Prof Quentin Atkinson (Professor in Psychology)
Dr Remco Bouckaert (Senior Research Fellow in Computer Science)
Dr Jordan Douglas (Research Fellow in Physics)
Luke Pringle (Research Assistant in Psychology)
Project Description and Invitation
The purpose of this research is to better understand linguists’ current views on the way sound change occurs within languages. To this end, we have created a short survey of 10 questions targeting a range of longstanding debates in the field. We aim now to solicit from linguists their responses to our survey, together with information on their specialisation and training. We will use these data to characterise how common different positions are regarding some of the major debates of our field, how much disagreement exists and what factors predict respondents’ positions on specific issues. You are invited to participate in the above named study. Taking part is completely voluntary. This research is funded by a small grant from the Centre for Computational Evolution (CCE) at the University of Auckland.
Project Procedures
You are invited to complete a short online survey consisting of multichoice fixed responses as well as free form sections where you can describe your views in greater detail. The survey will take about 5 minutes to complete. Should you choose to provide additional explanation in optional text boxes, it may take a few minutes longer. Responses will be collected and analysed to determine what common positions are held amongst linguists and what (if any) factors predict these opinions. This study will use Qualtrics, a web-based data collection platform, to create and distribute our survey. More information about Qualtrics can be found here - https://www.qualtrics.com/au/
This study has been approved by the University of Auckland Human Participants Ethics Committee. There are no known physical or psychological risks associated with this research. Anonymized data will be published on the Centre for Open Science’s public data repository - http://osf.io - so that everyone can benefit from it. If you elect to participate in the prize draw, we will request your email address for contact purposes. Your email will be stored separately from your response data and so cannot be linked to your responses. Emails will be stored electronically on a secure, password-protected server behind locked doors. Only approved members of the research team will be able to access email data.
Consent
As the survey is anonymous, completion of the survey is considered a form of consent.
Anonymity
The identities of participants will not be known to any researchers nor will any participants be identifiable through their responses.
Inclusion Criteria
Participants must hold a degree in linguistics. Participants must also be over 16 years of age and fluent in English.
Right to Withdraw from Participation
As the survey is anonymous once you submit it, we will not know which response is linked with which participant. Therefore, withdrawal from the research is not possible once your response has been submitted. Anonymous data will be stored in the Centre for Open Science’s public data repository.
Dissemination of Results
The results of this study will be published as journal articles and conference presentations. Participants will be able to request a summary of our findings by emailing q.atkinson@auckland.ac.nz. If participants request a summary of our findings their contact details will only be used for this purpose and their contact information will be deleted after the research summary has been sent.
Compensation
To thank you for your time and participation in this study you will have the opportunity to participate in a prize draw to win one of ten $50 Amazon gift vouchers. Prize winners will be determined using a computerised random selection procedure. Winners will be contacted by the email they provide. The prize draw will be conducted once data collection has been completed. The prize draw is likely to take place in the first half of 2024.
A downloadable PDF version of this document is available at https://osf.io/ahz2q
Contact Details:
Researcher: Quentin Atkinson, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Science, University of Auckland. q.atkinson@auckland.ac.nz +6493737599 Ext.84316
Head of Department: Niki Harré, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Science, University of Auckland. n.harre@auckland.ac.nz +6493737599 Ext.88512
For any queries regarding ethical concerns you may contact the Chair, University of Auckland Human Participants Ethics Committee, Office of Research Strategy and Integrity, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142.
Telephone 09 373-7599 ext. 83711
Email: humanethics@auckland.ac.nz
Approved by the University of Auckland Human Participants Ethics Committee on 10/10/2023 for three years. Reference Number: UAHPEC26714.