Enhancing consent forms to support participant decision making in multimodal learning research

Advances in the field of multimodal learning research is often accomplished by actively exploring new technologies and techniques related to the collection and analysis of data. However, the exploration of the ethical principles and procedures for governing the usage of the new technologies and techniques is not as eagerly pursued. As multimodal learning data grows in complexity, and to an extent invasiveness, a need is arising to scrutinize the ethical aspects of multimodal learning research. The process of informed consent in multimodal learning research may be an appropriate starting point as the results of bioethical studies suggest that many informed consent processes do not adequately support participant comprehension of the studies they consent to. Studies have shown that enhancing consent forms can improve participant comprehension and contribute to validating the consent received. The following data set include two types of enhanced consent forms: one form is written from a researcher perspective and the other from a participant perspective. Results of the study involving first year undergraduate students suggest that the overall level of comprehension did not differ between conditions. Yet, the participant-oriented consent form had significantly lower rates of enrollment. The data set is composed by: Anonymized Data Sheet: participant responses to the Informed Consent Test for Educational Technology and survey questions Enhanced Consent Forms: Enhanced consent forms for educational technology research for each condition in the study and in both English and Spanish. Form A is written from a research perspective (researcher-oriented) – which is how most forms are written. Form B is written from a participant perspective (participant-oriented).多模态学习（multimodal learning）研究领域的进展，通常依托对数据采集与分析相关新技术、新方法的主动探索而实现。然而，针对此类新技术、新方法的治理伦理原则与流程的探索，并未得到同等程度的重视。随着多模态学习数据的复杂度与侵入性不断提升，审视多模态学习研究中的伦理维度已成为迫切需求。知情同意（informed consent）流程可作为合适的切入点：生物伦理相关研究表明，多数知情同意流程无法充分帮助参与者理解其所参与的研究内容。已有研究证实，优化知情同意书能够提升参与者的理解程度，并有助于验证所获取的同意有效性。本数据集包含两类优化后的知情同意书：一类从研究者视角撰写，另一类从参与者视角撰写。针对大一本科生开展的研究结果显示，各组的整体理解水平并无显著差异，但参与者导向型知情同意书的报名率显著更低。数据集由以下两部分构成：1. 匿名数据表（Anonymized Data Sheet）：参与者针对《教育技术知情同意测试》的作答结果，以及调查问卷问题；2. 优化知情同意书：本研究各实验条件下的教育技术研究优化知情同意书，涵盖英文与西班牙语两个版本。其中A版为研究者视角撰写（研究者导向型）——这也是当前多数知情同意书的通用撰写方式；B版为参与者视角撰写（参与者导向型）。