Call for Roots Guide beta TESTERS…
Study title
Roots Guide: Testing the concept and content of a novel interactive travel guidebook in the Netherlands
Study purpose
We are looking for study volunteers to test the concept and content of the Roots Guide, a novel interactive travel guidebook designed to increase Roots Guide users’ understanding and acceptance of people with migration backgrounds in the Netherlands. The objective of this research study, funded by the National Geographic Society and supported by Wageningen University, is to understand how diverse pilot users use Roots Guide and what insights they acquire from engaging with the Roots Guide concept and content about themselves and other people and places in the Netherlands.
What the research study involves
Study participants will receive tailored study instructions, their Roots Guide guidebooks and journals in the post. Each study participant will be asked to read, use and complete specific portions of the Roots Guide. They are then asked to share their user experience of the guidebook via written responses (in Dutch or English) to a set of writing prompts in a journal provided to them. Upon completion of these tasks, study participants will send back their filled-in journals and guidebooks by post in a pre-paid envelope provided by the research team for analysis. Study participants will be contacted within a period of 2 weeks from submission of their materials for an online semi-structured follow-up interview and/or online focus group facilitated by our research team.
What are the possible benefits to participation?
The current pandemic is affecting our livelihoods, wellbeing and opportunities to travel and visit with others. The Roots Guide has been designed to offer its users new opportunities for personal growth and for building and strengthening meaningful connections with people and the places located near us. In offering users opportunities to undertake inner and outer journeys, it may support test users’ wellbeing at a time when our worlds have become physically smaller.
Are there any possible risks involved?
Some of the activities in Roots Guide can be risky due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We strongly advise that you follow all the COVID-19 regulations set by the Dutch government to combat the novel coronavirus. For the few activities that are affected by the pandemic, we ask you to either skip or adjust as necessary (e.g., limit the use of public transportation to destinations, keep a 1.5-meter distance from other people, and do not exceed the official restrictions on group size). Protecting your safety and that of others is of the utmost importance. Please follow https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/ for the latest information.
What does participation in this research require?
You are 18 years of age or older
You live in the Netherlands
You are able to read in Dutch and English
You can commit the required the time and energy to participate in the study
Study participants will be selected in order to ensure balanced representation in terms of age, gender, urban/rural residence, and residence across the Dutch provinces.
Commitment and time investment
Study participants must commit to setting aside sufficient time to participate in this study. We estimate a time investment of 8-10 hours, spread over a period of approximately 4 weeks, to cover the time necessary to read, use and complete specific portions of the Roots Guide; respond to a set of writing prompts; and participate in a one-on-one follow-up interview and/or focus group.
Compensation for time and participation
There are no costs associated with participating in this research study. Upon completion of the research, each study participant will receive 40 euros as a token of appreciation for their time and participation in the study.
How the data will be used and protected
Study participants will sign a consent form granting consent to the Roots Guide research team collecting and using the information you provide for this research study. In compliance with Wageningen University & Research’s data management policy, Dr Meghann Ormond is required to securely store participants’ study journal entries in the form of scanned images and their interview/focus group material in the form of digital recording and/or transcription for a minimum of seven (7) years securely at Wageningen University & Research. The same information will also be stored by Ms Ingeborg Mehus from Stichting Pocket Stories in digital form on our non-profit Google Drive and hard copies at a secure location at the official Pocket Stories address until the end of the project in 2021. Study participants’ privacy will be ensured by carefully secured record-keeping. Furthermore, in any publication and/or presentation resulting from this study, information will be published in a way such that you will be fully anonymised. Ethics approval for this study has been granted by Wageningen University’s Research Ethics Committee.
This study is being led by:
Dr Meghann Ormond, Associate Professor, Cultural Geography Chair Group, Wageningen University & Research, PO Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands. Email: meghann.ormond@wur.nl
&
Ingeborg (Ingi) Mehus, Director, Pocket Stories, Essenstraat 9B, 2011 DW Haarlem, The Netherlands. Email: ingi@ourpocketstories.org Mobile: 0640109045
For any questions about this study, please contact Meghann or Ingi for more information.