NewAg Confidentiality

Michigan State University has strict protocols to protect the confidentiality of persons who respond to our surveys. We are going to great lengths to protect the confidentiality of the information that participants provide. When you submit your responses to the survey we will separate your email from the data that you provide and keep them in separate files without any way to identify the participants that provided the information.

Of course we are hoping that you will decide to answer all the questions relevant to the Farm Market Annual Survey - 2005. But, you are under no obligation to respond to the survey, or to any particular question. We will regularly send out reminders to encourage more responses. At any time you wish to be removed from our mailing list please let us know by email, traditional mail or by telephoning us. We have provided a number of different contact points on the contact page which can be accessed on the home page.

Michigan State University's "University Committee on Research Involving Human Subjects (UCHRIS)" reviews and approves research including surveys. A human subject of research is an individual from whom an investigator obtains data by interaction or intervention or about whom the researcher obtains confidential information. Under the regulations, research is defined as a formal investigation designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge.

Federal and University regulations require that all research projects involving human subjects and materials of human origin be reviewed and approved by an IRB before initiation.