Involving the Use of Human Subjects This application can be completed on the web at http://irb.truman.

edu Handwritten applications will not be accepted! This application must be completed by the Investigator and sent to the Office of Grants and Foundation Relations, or to the appropriate Divisional Peer Review Committee. Peer Review Committees may not review projects that: (1) are externally funded; (2) place the subject(s) at more than minimal risk; 3) involve minors or other vulnerable populations; (4) investigate behaviors and or experiences related to sensitive topics; (5) are used as partial fulfillment of Master's Degree requirements. For questions about the review process contact the Grants Office or the IRB member in a specific academic division. 1. Investigator(s) Name(s): Laura Wellington 2. Local Address: 5109 Missouri Hall 3. Local Phone: 913-515-3308 Division: English E-mail Address: law7642@truman.edu Home or Alternate Phone: none

Application for Approval of Investigations

Truman State University

Truman State University

4. Project Title: Alternate Realities: The Folklore of Role-playing Games 5. Expected Starting Date as soon as IRB approval is received Expected Completion Date: end semester Fall 2011 6. Is this project: A Master's thesis x A class project Publishable research An MAE case study Being conducted in a foreign country Being submitted for external support

7. If notification of human subject approval is required give date required : Name of agency: N/A 8. Has this project previously been considered by the IRB or by a peer review committee? Yes X No If yes, give approximate date of review: 9. If you are a student, complete the following: Faculty Sponsor: Division: English Phone: x7777 **** If submitted externally, a complete copy of the proposal must be submitted to the IRB.**** ============================================================================= CERTIFICATION AND APPROVAL Certification by Investigator: I certify that (a) the information presented in this application is accurate, (b)only the procedures approved by the IRB or Peer Review Committee will be used in this project, and (c)modifications to this project will be submitted for approval prior to use. _Laura Wellington____________________________________________________9.26.11_________________ Signature of Investigator Date Faculty Sponsor: If the Investigator is a student, his/her Faculty Sponsor must approve this application. I certify that this project is under my direct supervision and that I accept the responsibility for ensuring that all provisions of approval are met by the investigator. _________________________________________________ __________________ _______________________________________________________ __________________ Signature of Faculty Sponsor Date I. Description of the Subjects (If advertising for subjects, include a copy of the proposed advertisement.)

A. How many subjects will be involved? 6 B. Subject Population (check all that apply) x Adults Mentally Retarded Disabled Explain if necessary: Minors Mentally Ill Special Education Prisoners Physically Ill  Other

C. For projects conducted in schools or school settings: N/A What grade are the students in? Approximate Age of Students? What subject (secondary)? How many classes involved? Name of School Location D. What criteria will be used to select subjects AND/OR what criteria will be used to exclude individuals? Each participant being interviewed will be an active member in my weekly role-playing game. They are all familiar with me. Other role-players not involved in this specific game will not be considered. II. Purpose of the Project- What is the Purpose of this project?

To explore the varying levels of verbal communication that ties these individuals together through this game. III. Activities Involving Human Subjects (Attach additional sheet if needed) A. Describe in detail the activities and procedures involving the subjects. Include the expected amount

of time subjects will be involved in each activity and where the activities will be conducted.
I will spend approximately two to four hours each week actively engaged in the role-playing game itself, which will be recorded. Then I will spend between half an hour to an hour interviewing each of the players to get their perspective on the verbal folklore created and how they perceive it.

IV.

Confidentiality and Anonymity

How will the data be collected? (Check all that apply) questionnaires (Submit a copy) x interviews (Submit sample of questions) test (Submit a copy if possible) x video or audio tapes Other, or description of above:

x observations (describe how they will be conducted) standardized tests (attach copy if possible; list names) task(s) (briefly explain) computer entries (explain)

I will be participating in the group sessions, and since the recordings will be strictly audio, I will observe and note the physical interactions between members. I assume they will be minimal, since the majority of the interactions during typical sessions are solely verbal, but if there are notable instances of physical motion, they will be documented textually. Sample Questions are attached at the end. A. Explain the procedures for collecting, recording and storing that data during the study. I will record each game session with an audio recorder, with written permission from each participant. I will also conduct interviews, which will be similarly recorded. If any of the interviewees wish to maintain anonymity, I can remove their names and identifying information from the study. I will store them on my computer during the study and compile these recordings on a CD or secure website for review.

B. Who will have access to the data during the study? (Access should be limited to protect anonymity of subjects and confidentiality of subject responses) Researcher and teacher will have full access. Classmates in ENG 365 will hear presentations on the results of the work. If the informant consents, some of the materials may be presented at a future folklore symposium or conference. C. Explain what will happen to the data once the study in completed. Is there a need to keep the data or will it be destroyed? If kept, how long and where will it be stored, how will confidentiality be ensured, who will have access to it?

Most data, including interviews, will be destroyed at the end of the study. The game recordings may be distributed to the subjects by request. Any identifiable records coming from participants who wish to remain anonymous will be destroyed at the end of the semester. Transcripts and summaries may, with the consent of the interviewees, be used in future folklore presentations. Materials which may be suitable for archiving in public repositories (a norm of folklore research; see American Folklore Society Human Subjects Position Statement [http://www.afsnet.org/aboutAFS/humansubjects.cfm] must pass one of two tests: informants contributions meet the strictest condition of anonymity or informants contributions come with the most unrestricted and explicit, written permission for inclusion in public archives. V.

Informed Consent
Unless authorized by the IRB, no investigator may involve a human being as a subject in research under the auspices of the University unless the investigator has obtained the informed consent of the subject or the subject's legally authorized representative. Attach a copy of all consent documents that will be used to this application. For further information about informed consent processes review the information on the Grants Office web site in the IRB Information section entitled 'Informed Consent.' (attached) A. Explain the procedures that will be used to obtain consent:

I will explain the particular project to interviewees and to other necessary figures. Projects will be explained as work done for a class, but work in which I have a particular interest and a growing academic competency. A written consent form will be offered, and collection will not begin until it is signed. Because it is becoming the norm for folklore collectors to credit their sources, the consent form will request permission to use the subjects name. However, the form will specify that if the subject wishes to remain anonymous, that wish will be honored. And the form will specify that the subject may end the session at any time and may revoke consent to use the materials being collected. B. Federal regulations state that the following elements of information should be provided to each subject. Place a check mark before each component included in your consent document. x An explanation of the purpose of the project and the expected duration of the subject's participation. x An explanation of the activities or procedures to be followed. A description of any risks or discomforts to the subject. x A description of any benefits of the project to the subject or to others. x A statement that participation in this project is voluntary and the subject may withdraw at any time. x A statement describing the extent to which confidentiality of records identifying the subject will be maintained. x An explanation of whom to contact with questions regarding the study. Explain request for waiver of any component listed above or other special conditions related to informed consent.

The projects covered by this class template form do not entail risks or discomforts to the subjects and it seems unnecessary, even counter-productive, to bring up the topic. VI. Benefits, Risks, and Costs of this Study A. What are the potential benefits to the subjects, to the field or discipline, or to the University?

Interviewees will have the pleasure of sharing knowledge and stories about their role-playing game. B. Will compensation (money, extra credit, etc.) be offered to the subjects? If so, how will it be dispersed? No compensation will be offered to the subjects. They will, however, be given the option of receiving the recordings of the game sessions, should they be interested. C. What risks or discomforts are most likely to be encountered by the subjects? Please consider carefully. employability emotional stress or discomfort financial or personal reputation psychological stress or discomfort embarrassment loss of confidentiality criminal or civil liability deception (benevolent misdirection) physical stress or discomfort other (explain below) D. What safeguards will you use to eliminate or minimize these risks? If there is the possibility of adverse reactions by the subjects, explain where the subjects can receive help. If a subject tires of the interviewing, the interview will end. If a subject later decides that she or he would not like his/her responses used, the phone numbers of student and faculty mentor will be available, and the subjects wishes will be honored.

VII.

Additional Information or Completion of a Previous Section:

Sample Questions for the interview: When did you get involved in the role-playing world? Why is this type of game interesting to you? Tell me about your character in this game. How similar is it to your actual personality? What is the status and position of your character in the party? Describe some of the running jokes that come up during game play. What is the group dynamic? How does each person in the group add to the overall game play? What is your favorite part about this particular campaign? Do you discuss the game with people outside of the party members? If so, what do you say about it and how is it generally received? If not, why do you conceal it?

Consent Form

Alternate Realites: The Folklore of Role-playing Games Laura Wellington, student in ENG 365 Folklore at Truman State University Mentored by Priscilla Riggle, Professor of English I am a student at Truman State University collecting verbal folklore for my Folklore course. I would like to interview you about our tabletop Lord of the Rings role-playing game. If you are at least 18 years old and willing to be interviewed, I would appreciate your time. Since I am collecting material from you, I would like to use your name in my class presentation. However, if you prefer, I will gladly use a substitute name or initials, and avoid using information that would identify you. You can stop the interview at any time without any sort of penalty, and you may skip any question you choose not to answer. You can also withdraw your consent to participate in the project at any point should you choose to do so. If you have questions or concerns about my project and would like to contact my professor, please call Dr. Priscilla Riggle at 660-785-7777 or email her at priggle@truman.edu. If you have questions for me or wish to add to or subtract from what you give me today, contact me, Laura Wellington, at 913.515.3308 or email me at law7642@truman.edu.

Please mark each of the following with Y (yes) or N (no) _____I agree to have the weekly sessions recorded. _____I agree to being interviewed and to having my name used.

(Please print your name here_________________________________________________________.) ____ I agree to being interviewed, but please conceal my name and other identifying details _____You may re-use my interview materials in future research. (if you answer no, your interview data will be destroyed at the end of this project) _____You may archive my interview materials in a public repository (for example library or electronic database (if you answer no, your interview data will be destroyed at the end of this project)

_____You may make audio recordings of this interview

Please send a copy of the recording of my interview and/or the game sessions to me at the address below when the project is completed: (address)