Virginia Tech Researchers Seeking Participants for a Study of Commuting Experiences
IRB-19-1077
Virginia Tech researchers are recruiting participants for a research study about commuting experiences. Participation will consist of completion of an online opt-in survey (approximately 30 minutes) and an eight-week daily survey period (two approximately 10 minute online surveys per day; Monday – Friday). During the daily survey period, participants will have in-vehicle video and driving performance recording equipment installed into their personal vehicle and will also be asked to wear a wrist-worn device that tracks physical activity and sleep. Two in-person appointments will occur over the course of the study, comprising:
- A 4 hour equipment installation appointment before the daily survey period
- A 4 hour equipment uninstallation appointment after the daily survey period
Participants may receive $30 - $500 depending on the extent of their participation. To be eligible to participate, you must:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Be a licensed driver
- Not be an undergraduate or a graduate student
- Be driving yourself to and from your physical workplace by car at least five days a week (Monday – Friday), with an average commute time of at least 15 minutes each way
- Be planning to use the same car to commute to and from work each workday for the next eight weeks
- Own or lease the car you will use in the study (or have permission of the owner to use the car in the study)
- Not routinely share your vehicle with other drivers (i.e., drive it 75% or more of the time)
- Not be a professional driver (e.g., limo driver, taxi driver, bus driver)
- Be able to provide proof of insurance
- Not have a need to drive their vehicle into areas where cameras are not allowed (e.g., military bases, international border crossings)
- Be a U.S. citizen or eligible to work in the U.S.
- Be comfortable reading and speaking in English
- Have regular access to Internet / email.
- Not drive an Audi, Jaguar, Mercedes, or Volkswagen vehicle
For more information and to determine your eligibility for the study, please contact Dr. Charles Calderwood (540-231-5870; WSRLab-g@vt.edu), Virginia Tech Department of Psychology. Please note that participants must be able to drive their vehicle to a research center site in either Blacksburg, Virginia or Manassas, VA for the equipment installation and uninstallation appointments, and that reimbursement for these costs is considered to be included in the $30 - $500 in compensation that will be provided depending on the extent of participation.