DFM Kerala 2021 Oral history interview consent form
| Project title | Dried Fish Matters: Mapping the social economy of dried fish in South and Southeast Asia for enhanced wellbeing and nutrition |
|---|---|
| Component | Scoping Study: Ernakulam-Kochi, India |
| Principal Investigator | Dr. Derek S. Johnson, Department of Anthropology, 432 Fletcher Argue Bldg., The University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2 Canada. Email: Derek.johnson@umanitoba.ca |
| Local Coordinators | Dr. Holly Hapke, Research Development Director. School of Social Sciences, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697-5100. Phone: 949 824 3183. E-mail: hhapke@uci.edu |
| Dr. Nikita Gopal, Principal Scientist, Indian Council of Agricultural Research - Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (ICAR-CIFT), CIFT Road Matsyapuri, Willingdon Island, Kochi, Kerala 682029, India. E-mail: Nikiajith@gmail.com | |
| Sponsor | Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) |
| Researchers | Dr. Holly Hapke |
This consent form, a copy of which will be left with you for your records and reference, is only part of the process of informed consent.
It should give you the basic idea of what the research is about and what your participation will involve.
If you would like more detail about something mentioned here, or information not included here, you should feel free to ask.
Please take the time to read this carefully and to understand any accompanying information.
Purpose of the research
“Dried Fish Matters” is an international study, funded by Canada, that aims to create a better understanding of the social aspects of the Indian Ocean dried fish economy.
The project is expected to last seven years, beginning in 2018.
The current phase of our research will involve general interviews, site observations, and community workshops among fishers, dried fish producers, wholesalers, and retailers located in India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Cambodia, Bangladesh, and Myanmar.
The information gathered from this research will help develop policies and interventions that address food security, nutrition, and livelihood needs across South and South-East Asia.
Information you provide may be used in any of the following:
- Academic conference presentations, articles, or book chapters
- Technical reports for researchers and policymakers
- Non-technical summaries for the general public
- Policy briefs, proposals for follow-up interventions or research initiatives
- Broadcast or text interviews
- Online databases and websites
- Workshops and community events (knowledge mobilization in your community)
Oral history interview
If you agree to be interviewed for this research, you will be asked to discuss and/or demonstrate your experiences related to the dried fish economy.
This interview will take approximately one hour and will be held at a time and location of your choice.
We will ask you to describe your life as a dried fish processor or trader, reflecting on how your practices and livelihood have changed in the context of state-led development within the fisheries sector. We will ask about how the market system was organized in the past, focusing on the period from roughly 1955 to the present.
The interview will be recorded and may be partly or fully transcribed by the researcher. With your consent, the recording or transcript may eventually be incorporated into educational or research materials. By giving your permission, you do not give up any copyright or performance rights that you may hold.
Benefits
This research is expected to support policy improvements aiming to address the needs of fishers, processors, traders, and retailers in the dried fish sector.
The findings from this initial research will directly shape the design of pilot interventions in areas such as food security, health, and sustainable livelihoods.
Although you may not benefit directly from these future policy proposals or interventions, any information you provide will contribute to better awareness of your needs and concerns among researchers and policymakers.
You will not be paid for participating in this study.
Risks
The expected risks of participating in this study are minimal.
Although we anticipate that our research will identify safety and legal/regulatory problems in the dried fish sector, we will not record or report the identities of anyone we observe taking part in unsafe or illegal activities.
Our project researchers may recommend policies or actions to address harmful practices in the dried fish sector, which could – if implemented – have a direct or indirect impact on your work.
In this context, we invite you to contribute honestly to our understanding of the challenges of engaging in safer, more equitable work practices, so as to guide our research in a positive way.
We are committed to consulting with stakeholders before publishing any sensitive findings that could affect them economically, socially, legally, or politically.
Note that we are bound to report any evidence we may encounter of violence inflicted on women and children to the Police as they are the primary enforcement agency.
Anonymity and confidentiality
Your interview will be used anonymously by the researchers in our project, unless you consent otherwise.
After the interview, you will be given the option of allowing the interview recording and transcript to be shared with other researchers or kept private.
Voluntary participation
Participation in this research is entirely voluntary.
You are always free to decline answering any of our questions, without giving a reason.
Should you agree to take part in this study, you are free to withdraw your participation at any time during or immediately following the interview.
If you choose to withdraw, any interview notes or recordings concerning you will immediately be destroyed.
Debriefing
At the end of the interview, you will be invited to provide feedback and ask questions about the research.
Dissemination of results
The initial findings from this study will be available in approximately 8 months.
You may obtain a written summary of the results from the local partner organization listed at the top of this form.
Additionally, you will be able to obtain the latest information on our research and comment on our findings through our mobile-accessible online platform at http://driedfishmatters.org.
By checking the boxes on this form, you indicate that you have understood to your satisfaction the information regarding participation in the research project and agree to participate as a subject.
In no way does this waive your legal rights nor release the researchers, sponsors, or involved institutions from their legal and professional responsibilities.
You are free to withdraw from the study at any time, and /or refrain from answering any questions you prefer to omit, without prejudice or consequence.
Your continued participation should be as informed as your initial consent, so you should feel free to ask for clarification or new information throughout your participation.
The University of Manitoba may look at your research records to see that the research is being done in a safe and proper way.
This research has been approved by the University of Manitoba Joint Faculty Ethics Review Board.
If you have any concerns or complaints about this project you may contact any of the above-named persons or the Human Ethics Coordinator at +1 204-474-7122 or humanethics@umanitoba.ca.
A copy of this consent form has been given to you to keep for your records and reference.
❏ I understand the purpose and nature of this study.
❏ I have been told about the expected risks and benefits of participating.
❏ I understand that participation in this research is voluntary, and that I may withdraw my consent to participate at any time without penalty.
❏ I agree to be interviewed for this research project.
To complete at the end of the interview.
❏ I consent to the interview recording and/or transcript being stored in an archive and shared with other researchers.
❏ I give the Researchers permission to publish quotes or extracts from the interview in books, articles, presentations, web sites, or exhibitions.
❏ The Researchers should include my name when quoting or sharing this interview. I wish to be identified as: _______________________________________
❏ I agree to be contacted for follow-up research. I can be located in the following way (provide your name and contact information):
❏ I wish to have a written summary of research results sent to me at the following address (email or post):
I prefer to receive communications in (select one or more):
❏ Malayalam
❏ English
❏ Another Language______________________ (Specify)
| Participant code / pseudonym | ________________________________ |
| Researcher and/or Delegate’s Signature | ________________________________ |
| Date | ________________________________ |
