Research Project
Updated December 2021: Data collection with stakeholders is now complete. Thank you for your support.
general information
A branch of Hockey Canada, Hockey Saskatchewan is the governing agency for amateur hockey in the province, supporting nearly 200 associations and close to 45,000 members including coaches, players, referees and team officials. Hockey Saskatchewan's mission is to "Lead, Develop and Promote Positive Hockey Experiences" with a motto of “Shaping Character For Life…More Than A Game”. As a hockey coach, parent/guardian or player (2004-2008) I invite you to review the general information below regarding my Masters of Arts in Leadership project. Upon review of the information provided, there is an opportunity for coaches and youth to participate in the project. Coaches have the ability to participate in a focus group and/or survey, while youth have the option to contribute through a survey. Parental or guidance consent is required for youth to participate.
Project Title: A Conversation with the Hockey Saskatchewan about Youth Leadership
My name is Nolan Horbach and this research project is part of the requirement for a Masters of Arts in Leadership at Royal Roads University (RRU). You can confirm my registration at Royal Roads University by contacting the Program Head, Dr. Niels Agger-Gupta at Niels.Agger-Gupta@royalroads.ca.
Purpose of the study and sponsoring organization
The purpose of the research project is to create a conversation with Hockey Saskatchewan stakeholders, including coaches and youth (2004-2008) from recreational to elite levels, around youth leadership development. While the outcomes and deliverables of the project will ultimately be determined collectively by the stakeholders, the project aims to explore how might Hockey Saskatchewan integrate youth leadership development into their mandate.
Your participation and how information will be collected
The research will consist of a survey, focus group, and world café. The online survey will provide an opportunity for coaches and youth (2004-2008) to contribute individual perspectives on youth leadership. The survey will accept coach and youth surveys over a two-week period with no limit to the number of participants. The focus group will be held online through Zoom and will consist of a minimum of six and a maximum of nine participants. The focus group provides the opportunity for participants to share ideas and perspectives with other coaches. The World Café, with a minimum of 12 and a maximum of 24 participants consisting of Hockey Saskatchewan board of directors and senior leadership will have participants answer three rounds of questions in small groups and then engage in a large group conversation.
Benefits and risks to participation
This research project is seen as a minimal risk project. Survey: Given the anonymity of the survey there is minimal risk associated with the project. Participating in the study has the potential to benefit stakeholders, including youth, as they become aware of youth leadership through sport. In addition, participants may benefit as they consider their role as a leader along with that of current and future teammates, coaches and the community they live in. Focus Group and World Cafe: Given the structure of the focus group and World Café there is the potential for other participants’ responses to influence the amount of information you are willing to share. To address this concern, instructions and expectations prior to the start of the focus group and World Café will be provided to help support an engaging and respectful process. Participating in the study has the potential to benefit stakeholders, including coaches, as they become aware of youth leadership development through sport and consider individual contributions and opportunities to support youth.
Due to the nature of the focus group and World Café, it is not possible to keep the identities of the participants anonymous from the researcher or other participants in the group methods.
Data may be stored on or accessible by servers in the United States, and may be subject to examination by government or law enforcement under the Patriot Act. While this likelihood is small, I am required to let you/my participants know about this possible risk.
Real or Perceived Conflict of Interest
There are no known real or perceived conflicts of interest with this project. I disclose this information here so that you can make a fully informed decision on whether or not to participate in this study. Although I am a stakeholder within HS as a volunteer coach, my current role within HS is not one of influence among potential ELP participants. As such, I do not believe there are conflicts of interest or power over concerns.
Confidentiality, security of data, and retention period
I will work to protect your privacy throughout this study. All information I collect will be maintained in confidence with hard copies (e.g., consent forms) stored in a locked filing cabinet in my home office. Electronic data (such as transcripts or audio files) will be stored on a password-protected computer. Information will be recorded in hand-written format and audio recorded, and, where appropriate, summarized, in an anonymous format, in the body of the final report. At no time will any specific comments be attributed to any individual unless a specific agreement has been obtained beforehand. All documentation will be kept strictly confidential.
Upon completion of the project, data will be destroyed after one year. Information stored online will be deleted while paper copies will be shredded and discarded. Given the anonymity of the survey, participant information and relatable data will not be identifiable unless names are purposefully shared within the survey.
The online survey tool is SurveyMonkey, which has its servers in the USA. Your anonymous survey data may be subject to seizure by the US government under the USA Patriot Act. While the likelihood of this happening is very small, I am required to advise you of this potential risk.
Research reports from online or mail-in surveys in which there is no personally identifiable information such as the research participant’s name, and there is no way to trace the responses back to the research participant, are considered anonymous
Please note that your valuable ideas and opinions will appear in the report itself. However, no personal information such as your name or personally identifiable information will be used to attribute those comments to you.
Sharing results
In addition to submitting my final report to Royal Roads University in partial fulfillment for a Masters of Arts in Leadership, I will also be sharing my research findings with Hockey Saskatchewan. Information gathered from the survey, focus group and world café will be used to identify action items in support of achieving the projects’ goal. Research participants, other than those participating in anonymity, will receive an Executive Summary of the project. Any further sharing of the project findings including but not limited to conferences or publications will maintain the anonymity of project participants.
Procedure for withdrawing from the study
Participants have the ability to withdraw from the research project at any time. Given the anonymity of the survey, it might not be possible to identify your comments in order to remove them. Participants may withdraw at any time from the focus group and World Café but any comments they may have said prior to withdrawal will remain as anonymous data in the study data set. To withdraw, email Nolan Horbach at Nolan.Horbach@royalroads.ca.
You are not required to participate in this research project. By responding to the research project and completing the survey you indicate that you have read and understand the information above and give your free and informed consent to participate in this project.
During the time of COVID if a participant does not have a scanner/printer for the participant’s signature return email indicating consent a return email is sufficient. This research project has been approved by the RRU Research Ethics Board. If you have any questions regarding your rights as a research participant, please contact the Office of Research Ethics at ethicalreview@royalroads.ca.
If you have any questions about this inquiry, please contact Nolan Horbach at Nolan.Horbach@royalroads.ca or (306) 270-2099.