Research Subject Information Sheet

Title:                                                   Understanding team performance

Protocol Number:                                C1971

Sponsor:                                        Google LLC (“Google”)

Investigator                                        Dr. Garrett Honke, PhD

                                                1600 Amphitheater Parkway

                                                attn:  ghonk

                                                Mountain View, CA 94043

                                                USA

Study-Related

Phone Number:                                +1 650-214-7413

Research Consent Summary

You are being asked for your consent to take part in a research study.  This document provides a concise summary of this research.  It describes key information that we believe most people need to decide whether to take part in this research.  Later sections of this document will provide all relevant details.  Please read this document carefully before deciding whether or not you wish to continue.  

What should I know about this research?

• Taking part in this research is voluntary.  Whether or not you decide to take part is up to you.
• If you don't take part, it won't be held against you.
• You can take part now and drop out later, and it won't be held against you.

How long will I be in this research?

Each research session will take approximately 60 minutes.  You may be able to participate more than once.  

Why is this research being done?

The purpose of this research is to understand how individuals communicate and solve problems.

What happens to me if I agree to take part in this research?  

If you decide to take part in this research, you will be asked to play a puzzle game.  Your performance on the game will be recorded.  You will see communication generated by other humans.

Could being in this research hurt me?  

The risks of taking part in this research are extremely minimal, on the order of what you would expect if you played any multiplayer computer game for 20 minutes.  

Will being in this research benefit me?  

It is not expected that you will benefit from this research.  This research does not intend to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or condition.    

Detailed Research Consent

You are being invited to take part in a research study.  A person who takes part in a research study is called a research subject, or research participant.

What should I know about this research?  

• This form explains the research to you---including what will happen to you if you decide to participate, what the risks of participation are, and how you will be compensated for your participation.
• In addition to this form, your participation in this research, including the use of the game and website, will be subject to the Google Terms of Service (policies.google.com/terms) and Google Privacy Policy (policies.google.com/privacy), between you and Google; this form will be considered “service-specific additional terms and policies” within the meaning of the Google Terms of Service.
• In addition to the terms between you and Google (see bullet above), you may have also entered into a separate “Participant Terms” (https://www.prolific.co/assets/docs/Participant_Terms.pdf) contract between you and Prolific Academic Ltd., which governs certain topics related to this research study (e.g. registration, payments, etc.)
• Taking part in this research is voluntary.  Whether or not you take part is up to you.
• You can choose not to take part.  There will be no penalty or loss of benefits to which you are otherwise entitled.
• You can agree to take part and then later change your mind.  There will be no penalty or loss of benefits to which you are otherwise entitled.
• Read this form carefully and make sure you understand what will happen, the risks, and how you will be compensated, before you decide to participate.

Why is this research being done?  

The purpose of this research is to understand communication and problem solving.  We are trying to understand how people provide information that will help other people solve problems.

About 5000 participants will take part in this research.

How long will I be in the research?

Each research session will take approximately 60 minutes.  You are welcome to participate in multiple sessions, but you should know that we may discontinue the research at any time and without notice to you, so we cannot guarantee you will be able to play multiple sessions.

What happens to me if I agree to take part in this research?  

If you agree to participate, you will play an online puzzle game.

The research will take place online.  You are welcome to participate in any quiet place where you have access to a computer and the internet.

The research will take approximately 60 minutes.

What are my responsibilities if I take part in this research?

If you take part in this research, you will be responsible to:

• Answer the to the best of your ability
• Participate in the game and any puzzles within it
• Remain online for the entire duration of the game
• Refrain from consuming alcohol or recreational drugs while playing the game
• Refrain from disclosing any private information about yourself while playing the game

Could being in this research hurt me?

The risks of taking part in this research are extremely minimal; no more than you would expect from playing any multiplayer computer game for 60 minutes.

You may feel mild embarrassment or awkwardness while playing the game---similar to what you might feel if you suggested a solution to a problem in a work meeting and a different solution was chosen.  As described above, it is your responsibility as a participant to treat other participants with respect, to minimize this risk for all participants.

Will it cost me money to take part in this research?

No.  

Will being in this research benefit me?  

We cannot promise any benefits to you or others from your taking part in this research.  However, some participants in research like this find it enjoyable to solve problems.  It is important that you use any provided information for entertainment purposes only and you do not use such information for any decisions outside of this research study. 

What other choices do I have besides taking part in this research?  

This research is not designed to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease.  Your alternative is to not take part in the research.  

What happens to the information collected for this research?

The information that you provide and a recording of your behavior during the research will be provided to the individuals and organizations that conduct and watch over this research, including:

• The research sponsor (Google)
• People who work with the research Sponsor, including research partners, collaborators, third party service providers, and affiliates of the research sponsor
• The institutional review board (IRB) that reviewed this research

In addition to the above individuals and organizations, data collected from you in this research may be stored in a de-identified form and such de-identified data may be shared or used for any purpose, including future research, product development, and publications, without your consent.  

We will use reasonable efforts to protect your privacy and confidentiality. We cannot promise complete privacy. Our confidentiality obligations may be limited to comply with applicable law.

Who can answer my questions about this research?  

If you have questions, concerns, or complaints, or think this research has hurt you or made you sick, talk to the research team at the phone number listed above on the first page.

This research is being overseen by an Institutional Review Board (“IRB”). An IRB is a group of people who perform independent review of research studies. You may talk to them at (800) 562-4789, help@wcgirb.com if:

• You have questions, concerns, or complaints that are not being answered by the research team.
• You are not getting answers from the research team.
• You cannot reach the research team.
• You want to talk to someone else about the research.
• You have questions about your rights as a research subject.

Can I be removed from this research without my approval?  

The person in charge of this research can remove you from the research without your approval.  Possible reasons for removal include:

• You are unable to complete the research session (e.g., if your internet connection is unreliable)
• You are disruptive or disrespectful
• You are judged to be answering questions dishonestly or in bad faith
• You fail attention check mechanisms built in to the game to ensure that you are paying attention
• You attempt to participate in the research while under the influence of alcohol or recreational drugs

We will tell you about any new information that might affect your health, welfare, or choice to continue in the research.  

What happens if I agree to be in this research, but I change my mind later?  

If you decide to stop participating in the research, you can stop at any time, by clicking the "Stop" button in the game interface.  If you click the Stop button, your participation will immediately cease, no more data will be collected about you, and all of your data from the current play session will be deleted. Despite anything to the contrary in the Google Privacy Policy and except as required by law, after you complete a play session, you will not be able to access any data from your participation in this research and we may not delete any data from your participation in this research, even if you request such deletion. 

Will I be compensated for taking part in this research?

It depends. 

• If you are participating via the Prolific platform, your submission will be reviewed and, when verified, you will be credited $6.50 within the platform (please direct any compensation questions to Prolific).
• Additionally, a bonus of $0.10 will be provided to you for each task you solve correctly and $0.50 for each description that you generate that another person uses to solve the task correctly. Note: Bonuses are not guaranteed. They are subject to the quality of participants' solutions and the random allocation of puzzles and solutions.
• If you are a student, then your educational institution may offer partial course credit (please discuss with your institution).
• If neither of the requirements above apply, then you will receive no compensation for your participation in the study.

What else should I know about this research?

The Study Principal Investigator (Dr. Garrett Honke, PhD) and the study staff are employees or contractors of the research Sponsor (Google). The Principal Investigator and study staff may own stock in Google. Please reach out to the IRB ((800) 562-4789, help@wirb.com) if you have any questions relating to this potential conflict of interest.