Boston College Consent Form
Boston College Lynch School of Education and Human Development
Informed Consent to be in study
Catholic (Arch)diocesan Schools' Office Operations Survey
Researcher: John Reyes
Type of consent: Adult Consent Form

(This project was approved by Boston College's Institutional Review Board on March 27, 2025, protocol #25.0869-01.)

Invitation to be Part of a Research Study
You are invited to participate in a research study. You were selected to be in the study because you are an individual currently serving as a superintendent or equivalent role in a(n) (arch)diocese’s Catholic schools office in the United States. Taking part in this research project is voluntary.

Important Information about the Research Study
Things you should know:

• The purpose of the study is to gather information on key aspects such as staffing, department responsibilities, and how central office functions support schools and students. Your responses will help provide a clearer picture of current trends, common practices, and challenges faced in the day-to-day operations of central offices.
• If you choose to participate, you will be asked to participate in an online Qualtrics survey that will take approximately 20 minutes to complete.
• We expect no risks or discomforts from this research.
• The study will not provide any known direct benefits.
• Taking part in this research project is voluntary. You don’t have to participate and you can stop at any time.

Please take time to read this entire form and ask questions before deciding whether to take part in this research project.

What is this study about and why are we doing it?
By gathering this information, we aim to:

• Identify patterns that may contribute to better resource allocation and support for schools;
• Provide comparative data that superintendents can use to evaluate and improve their central office efficiency;
• Share best practices across dioceses, fostering collaboration and innovation in central office management.

The results of this survey will be compiled and shared with participating superintendents and may be used to inform policy recommendations, improve operational efficiency, and shape future professional development efforts. It will contribute to a deeper understanding of how central offices function and how they can better support Catholic school educators, students, and communities.

What will happen if you take part in this study?
If you agree to take part in this study, you will be asked to answer a series of survey items about your Catholic schools office's operations. We expect this to take about 20 minutes to complete.

How could you benefit from this study?
As a current superintendent or equivalent role in a(n) (arch)diocese’s Catholic schools office in the United States, the findings of this study will be shared with you to inform policy recommendations and improve operational efficiency. Additionally, others might benefit because of the research findings that may be used to strengthen efforts for Catholic school (arch)diocesan leadership in the United States.

What risks might result from being in this study?
We don’t believe there are any risks from participating in this research. However, if at any point you wish to end the survey, you may do so.

How will we protect your information?
The records of this study will be kept private. In any sort of report we may publish, we will not include any information that will make it possible to identify you. 

All electronic information will be coded and stored on a secure server at Boston College, to which only the research team will have access. 

We will assign to each participant a unique, coded identifier that will be used in place of actual identifiers. We will separately maintain a record that links each participant’s coded identifier to his or her actual name, but this separate record will not include research data.

The Institutional Review Board at Boston College and internal Boston College auditors may review the research records. State or federal laws or court orders may also require that information from your research study records be released. Otherwise, the researchers will not release to others any information that identifies you unless you give your permission, or unless we are legally required to do so.

What will happen to the information we collect about you after the study is over?
Your name and other information that can directly identify you will be deleted from the research data collected as part of the project.

How will we compensate you for being part of this study?
You will be compensated with a $25 Amazon electronic gift card for your participation in this study within 6-8 weeks of survey completion. Please note that if you choose to leave the study early, the gift card will not be issued.

What are the costs to you to be part of the study?
There is no cost to you to be in this research study.

Your Participation in this Study is Voluntary
It is totally up to you to decide to be in this research study. Participating in this study is voluntary. Even if you decide to be part of the study now, you may change your mind and stop at any time. You do not have to answer any questions you do not want to answer. If you decide to withdraw before this study is completed, your data will be discarded and not used in the study.

Getting Dismissed from the Study
The researcher may dismiss you from the study at any time for the following reasons: (1) it is in your best interests (e.g. side effects or distress have resulted), or (2) you have failed to comply with the study rules.

Contact Information for the Study and Questions about the Research
If you have questions about this research, you may contact Dr. John Reyes, reyesef@bc.edu. 

Contact Information for Questions about Your Rights as a Research Participant
If you have questions about your rights as a research participant, or wish to obtain information, ask questions, or discuss any concerns about this study with someone other than the researcher(s), please contact the following:

Boston College
Office for Research Protections
Phone: (617) 552-4778
Email: irb@bc.edu

Your Consent
By signing this document, you are agreeing to be in this study. Make sure you understand what the study is about before you sign. We will give you a copy of this document for your records. We will keep a copy with the study records. If you have any questions about the study after you sign this document, you can contact the study team using the information provided above.