Virtual Footlocker Project
Developing an application for capturing and preserving the personal records of the modern soldier
For generations, soldiers documented their wartime experiences in personal diaries, photographs, and correspondence with loved ones. Often veterans kept these treasured personal collections long after their service, and handed them down to family members. Eventually, these personal military service records humanized the sacrifice of war through historians use as primary sources. With the digital revolution, the 21st century soldier no longer possess the same tangible personal archives creating a critical gap in the record.
In its entirety, the Virtual Footlocker Project focuses on the development of an open-source, cross-system platform system for capturing and preserving the personal communication and documentary record of the modern soldier.
The first phase of this project explores the personal archiving and record-keeping habits of the modern soldier in order to identify the different types of digital files created. Based on these findings, the team will create, test and distribute a system for preserving the files.
Are you an active duty military member or a veteran of the past ten years?
If so, please consider participating in the Phase 1 Survey
If you agree to participate, you will be asked to complete an online survey that will take approximately 20-30 minutes to complete. Upon completion, you can choose to opt into a raffle for 1 of 20 $50 payments.
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Full information about the study is listed below.
Louisiana State University
Consent to Participate in Online Survey Research
IRB # E9655
Approval Date: 11/11/2015
Study Title: Virtual Footlocker Phase 1: Exploring the Personal Archiving and Recordkeeping Habits of the 21st Century Soldier
Person Responsible for Research: Edward Benoit, III (PI)
Study Description: The purpose of this research study is to identify and analyze the types of communication methods used and personal records created by military members who served between 2005 and 2015. Approximately 1,000 subjects will participate in this study. If you agree to participate, you will be asked to complete an online survey that will take approximately 20-30 minutes to complete.
Risks / Benefits: Risks to participants are considered minimal. Collection of data and survey responses using the internet involves the same risks that a person would encounter in everyday use of the internet, such as breach of confidentiality. While the researchers have taken every reasonable step to protect your confidentiality, there is always the possibility of interception or hacking of the data by third parties that is not under the control of the research team.
There will be no costs for participating. Benefits of participating include the option of opting into a compensation drawing upon completion of the study. Upon completion of the survey, you will be given the option to either opt in or opt out of a raffle to win one of twenty $50 payments. If you choose to opt into the raffle, you will need to provide your email address. The raffle will be held upon completion of the study (approximately 5/1/2017). The odds of winning will depend on the number of participants (for example, with 500 participants, odds of winning would be 1:25). If you are selected as a winner, you will be contacted via the email address provided, and will need to provide your name, address, social security number (or 89 number if you are a LSU student), and identify if you are a U.S. citizen and/or a LSU employee. PLEASE NOTE: The LSU Accounts Payable office may require winners to submit a W-9 form. All submitted personal information will only be used for purpose of payment, and will not be connected to your survey data.
Limits to Confidentiality: Identifying information such as your email address will be collected only for participation in the optional compensation drawing. Data will be retained on the Qualtrics website server for 3 years and will be deleted after this time. However, data may exist on backups or server logs beyond the time frame of this research project. Data transferred from the survey site will be saved in an encrypted format for 3 years. Only the SPI will have access to the data collected by this study. However, the Institutional Review Board at LSU or appropriate federal agencies like the Office for Human Research Protections may review this study’s records. The research team will remove your identifying information after downloading the data and all study results will be reported without identifying information so that no one viewing the results will ever be able to match you with your responses.
Voluntary Participation: Your participation in this study is voluntary. You may choose to not answer any of the questions or withdraw from this study at any time without penalty. Your decision will not change any present or future relationship with Louisiana State University.
Who do I contact for questions about the study: For more information about the study or study procedures, contact Edward Benoit III at ebenoit@lsu.edu or 225-578-1469
Who do I contact for questions about my rights or complaints towards my treatment as a research subject? Contact the LSU IRB at 225-578-8692 or irb@lsu.edu
Research Subject’s Consent to Participate in Research:
By entering this survey, you are indicating that you have read the consent form, you are age 18 or older and that you voluntarily agree to participate in this research study.
This study has been approved by the LSU IRB. For questions concerning participant rights, please contact the IRB Chair, Dr. Dennis Landin, 578-8692, or irb@lsu.edu
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