Consent Letter
In accordance with York University's policies on research ethics all participants in this study will be asked to sign a consent letter. Below is a draft of the letter.
_______________________________________
March 10, 2005
Consent Letter
I am preparing a research project about the experience of German expellees (the Vertriebenen, or expelled ones) after W.W.II from Eastern and South Eastern Europe who immigrated to Canada after the war. Until relatively recently, the topic of the German expulsion has been largely avoided, both in academia and the popular press. Accordingly, one of the major aims of my project is to fill this gap in existing scholarship and public discussion.
Among the questions that I hope to investigate are: how do Germans who lived through W.W.II come to terms with personal experiences of loss in relation to how history books and mainstream media usually represent the Second World War? What stories are told to the children of the expellees? At what point or in what stage of life does it become "permissible" to mention the war, especially in terms of what the German people (particularly the Volksdeutsche) had to endure? The responses to such questions are important not only in terms of what they tell us about a particular period in history but also in terms of the more general issues of memory, justice and reconciliation within the context of war, conflict and genocide.
This project will have a number of stages. The first and most significant is the collection of material from individuals such as your self in the form of video taped interviews. While I will have a few direct questions, such as those indicated above, the interviews will be for the most part open ended, meaning that you will be free to speak as you wish about your experiences. The interviews will be held at a place and time of your preference and may take place in several installments. In some cases, and only if you agree, I may ask you to share any photographs or other media (such as recordings) that relate to your experience. It is possible, but again only if with your written permission, that the photographs we reproduced in the publications of this project. The second part of the project involves the publication of the results that will take the form of a number of shorter papers for publication in scholarly journals and a full-length book authored by myself. While aimed at an academic audience, the book will be written in a clear and comprehensible style. The book will include historical and theoretical ideas to ground the reader and will be accompanied by excerpts from the interviews. Some of the videotape material may be used for conference presentations (provided you give me permission to do so). However, the major aim behind the use of videotape is to provide me with an accurate and reliable means with which to record your stories.
Please note that I will honour all requests for confidentiality and anonymity and that you have the right to withdraw from the interview process at any time. Should you choose to withdraw, all videotaped and recorded material will be erased. All interview materials (notes, video tapes, sound recordings, etc.) will be stored in a locked office in perpetuity and only I, as the principle researcher, will have access to the materials. Please note that there are no known risks or benefits arising from your participation in this project.
I should add that my own mother is one of the Vertriebenen who along with my Grandfather, Grandfather and Uncle were forced to flee as the Russian Army advanced on their town Butow (now Butowska, 50km outside of Danzig). Accordingly this subject is of interest to me not only for scholarly reasons but also because it forms an integral part of my upbringing and personal life. I look forward to meeting with you.
This research project has been reviewed and approved by York University's Human Participants Review Sub-Committee (HPRC) within the context of York's Senate Policy on Research Ethics. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact the HPRC at 416-736-5055 (research@yorku.ca).
If you are willing to participate in this study and agree with the conditions outlined above, please sign and return a copy of this letter to me.
Sincerely,
Dr. Andreas Kitzmann
tel:(416) 736-2100 x 20481
email: kitzmann@yorku.ca
Print Your Name: ____________________________________________
Signature: ________________________________ Date: ____________
In accordance with York University's policies on research ethics all participants in this study will be asked to sign a consent letter. Below is a draft of the letter.
_______________________________________
March 10, 2005
Consent Letter
I am preparing a research project about the experience of German expellees (the Vertriebenen, or expelled ones) after W.W.II from Eastern and South Eastern Europe who immigrated to Canada after the war. Until relatively recently, the topic of the German expulsion has been largely avoided, both in academia and the popular press. Accordingly, one of the major aims of my project is to fill this gap in existing scholarship and public discussion.
Among the questions that I hope to investigate are: how do Germans who lived through W.W.II come to terms with personal experiences of loss in relation to how history books and mainstream media usually represent the Second World War? What stories are told to the children of the expellees? At what point or in what stage of life does it become "permissible" to mention the war, especially in terms of what the German people (particularly the Volksdeutsche) had to endure? The responses to such questions are important not only in terms of what they tell us about a particular period in history but also in terms of the more general issues of memory, justice and reconciliation within the context of war, conflict and genocide.
This project will have a number of stages. The first and most significant is the collection of material from individuals such as your self in the form of video taped interviews. While I will have a few direct questions, such as those indicated above, the interviews will be for the most part open ended, meaning that you will be free to speak as you wish about your experiences. The interviews will be held at a place and time of your preference and may take place in several installments. In some cases, and only if you agree, I may ask you to share any photographs or other media (such as recordings) that relate to your experience. It is possible, but again only if with your written permission, that the photographs we reproduced in the publications of this project. The second part of the project involves the publication of the results that will take the form of a number of shorter papers for publication in scholarly journals and a full-length book authored by myself. While aimed at an academic audience, the book will be written in a clear and comprehensible style. The book will include historical and theoretical ideas to ground the reader and will be accompanied by excerpts from the interviews. Some of the videotape material may be used for conference presentations (provided you give me permission to do so). However, the major aim behind the use of videotape is to provide me with an accurate and reliable means with which to record your stories.
Please note that I will honour all requests for confidentiality and anonymity and that you have the right to withdraw from the interview process at any time. Should you choose to withdraw, all videotaped and recorded material will be erased. All interview materials (notes, video tapes, sound recordings, etc.) will be stored in a locked office in perpetuity and only I, as the principle researcher, will have access to the materials. Please note that there are no known risks or benefits arising from your participation in this project.
I should add that my own mother is one of the Vertriebenen who along with my Grandfather, Grandfather and Uncle were forced to flee as the Russian Army advanced on their town Butow (now Butowska, 50km outside of Danzig). Accordingly this subject is of interest to me not only for scholarly reasons but also because it forms an integral part of my upbringing and personal life. I look forward to meeting with you.
This research project has been reviewed and approved by York University's Human Participants Review Sub-Committee (HPRC) within the context of York's Senate Policy on Research Ethics. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact the HPRC at 416-736-5055 (research@yorku.ca).
If you are willing to participate in this study and agree with the conditions outlined above, please sign and return a copy of this letter to me.
Sincerely,
Dr. Andreas Kitzmann
tel:(416) 736-2100 x 20481
email: kitzmann@yorku.ca
Print Your Name: ____________________________________________
Signature: ________________________________ Date: ____________