Research Study
Title of the Project: The Priority of Language and Music Preference as Factors for Church Choice Among Immigrants in Metropolitan Atlanta
Principal Investigator: Thomas Ferguson, Doctor of Worship Studies Candidate, School of Music, Liberty University
Key Information about the Research Study
You are invited to participate in a research study. To participate, you must be 18 years old or older, be a first- or second-generation immigrant, and attend a church in the northeastern metropolitan Atlanta area.
Things you should know:
- The purpose of the study is to identify the values, factors, and cultural issues that are
most important to immigrant Christians when deciding to join a worshiping community.
If you choose to participate, you will be asked to complete an anonymous online survey.
This will take approximately thirty minutes. If you are interested in participating in a
follow-up interview, indicate your interest by completing the separate follow-up
information page, which immediately follows the anonymous survey. - Participants should not expect a direct benefit from participating in this study.
- Taking part in this research project is voluntary. You do not have to participate, and you
can stop at any time.
Please read this entire form and ask questions before deciding whether to participate in this research.
What is the study about, and why is it being done?
The purpose of the study is to identify the values, factors, and cultural issues that are most important to immigrant Christians when deciding to join a worshiping community.
What will happen if you take part in this study?
If you agree to be in this study, I will ask you to do the following:
- Participate in an anonymous online survey that will take approximately 30 minutes
- If you are interested in participating in a follow-up interview, indicate your interest by completing the separate follow-up information page, which immediately follows the anonymous survey.
How could you or others benefit from this study?
Participants should not expect a direct benefit from participating in this study.
Benefits to society include:
- Christians growing in their understanding of their brothers and sisters from different cultures, resulting in the biblical ideal of unity in diversity and serving as a testimony to the power of the Gospel
- The body of Christ will gain an expanded understanding of worship from a Kingdom perspective.
- The local church will be more welcoming of immigrants in their community.
- The results of the study will enhance the effectiveness of churches and church leaders as they strive to fulfill the biblical mandate of the Great Commandment and the Great Commission in a multiethnic environment.
What risks might you experience from being in this study?
The expected risks from participating in this study are minimal, which means they are equal to the risks you would encounter in everyday life.
This study will involve the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to assist with data analysis. While efforts will be made to ensure data accuracy and confidentiality, AI tools may carry minimal risks related to the misinterpretation of results and participant privacy. Any AI-assisted processes will follow strict ethical guidelines, and your data will not be used to train or refine AI systems.
How will personal information be protected?
The records of this study will be kept private and secure. Published reports will not include any information that will make it possible to identify a subject. Research records will be stored securely, and only the researcher, the researcher’s faculty supervisor, and a webmaster will have access to the records.
- Participant responses to the online survey will be anonymous.
- Data will be stored on a password-locked computer and hard drive, and in a locked filing cabinet. The researcher, his faculty supervisor, and a webmaster will have access to the data. After three years, all electronic records will be deleted and all hard copy records will be shredded.
- The data from the online survey will be analyzed using AI by assembling and counting the responses for each question and sorting according to the demographic data. All AI output will be verified by the researcher. Data will be stored on a password-locked computer. The researcher, his faculty supervisor, and a webmaster will have access to the data. After three years, the data will be deleted.
How will you be compensated for being part of the study?
Participants will not be compensated for participating in this study.
Is participation voluntary?
Participation in this study is voluntary. Your decision whether to participate will not affect your current or future relations with Liberty University. If you decide to participate, you are free not to answer any question or withdraw at any time without affecting those relationships.
What should you do if you decide to withdraw from the study?
If you choose to withdraw from the study while taking the anonymous online survey, please exit the survey and close your internet browser. Your responses will not be recorded or included in the study.
Whom do you contact if you have questions or concerns about the study?
The researcher conducting this study is Thomas Furguson. You may ask any questions you have now. If you have questions later, you are encouraged to contact him at 540-577-4840 or teferguson1@liberty.edu. You may also contact the researcher’s faculty sponsor, Dr. Douglas Anthony, at dranthony@liberty.edu.
Whom do you contact if you have questions about your rights as a research participant?
If you have any questions or concerns regarding this study and want to talk to someone other than the researcher, you are encouraged to contact the IRB. Our physical address is Institutional Review Board, 1971 University Blvd., Green Hall Ste. 2845, Lynchburg, VA, 24515; our phone number is 434-592-5530, and our email address is irb@liberty.edu.
Disclaimer: The Institutional Review Board (IRB) ensures that human subjects research will be conducted ethically as defined and required by federal regulations. The topics covered and viewpoints expressed or alluded to by student and faculty researchers are those of the researchers and do not necessarily reflect the official policies or positions of Liberty University.
Your Consent
Before agreeing to be part of the research, please be sure that you understand what the study is about. You can download or print a copy of this document for your records. If you have any questions about the study later, you can contact the researcher using the information provided above. Although you are not required to sign a consent form, if you prefer to do so, please contact the researcher.