You are being invited to take part in a research study which is part of a PhD degree. Before you decide to take part, it is important for you to understand why the research is being done and what it will involve. Please take time to read the following information carefully and discuss it with others if you wish. Please ask if there is anything that is not clear or if you would like more information. Take time to decide whether or not you wish to take part. Thank you for taking the time to read this.

Who will conduct the research?

Georgia Ionescu, Dr. Susan Astley & Dr. Johan Hulleman

Centre for Imaging Sciences
The University of Manchester
Oxford Road
Manchester M13 9PL

What is the purpose of the research?

It is well known that radiologists mammograms occasionally miss early signs of breast cancer - for that reason two radiologists search every image. Scientists have developed Computer systems that indicate probable locations of breast cancer. The radiologists then decide whether they really are cancerous, but due to the complexity and variability of the images, the computer systems are imperfect, sometimes missing cancers and sometimes prompting normal regions of the images. There are also different kinds of cancers, and the algorithms that detect them have different error rates. If there are too many prompts, the radiologists can become distracted or ignore them, but with more prompts the chance of prompting abnormal regions is increased. We have evaluated computer systems clinically and found that they currently increase the cancer detection rate for some radiologists, but they also increase the proportion of women who are called back for further investigation but don't have cancer.

In this project we are trying to find the best balance between on-target prompts and prompts marking normal features. Because this involves testing several different combinations of prompt performance we can't do it using radiologists, and have opted instead to follow a 'citizen science' approach. Our experiment is a game that is hosted on a cancer charity website free of charge. Our targets are bats which you have to find in images of flocks of birds.

Why have I been chosen?

You have been chosen to participate in this study because you have normal or corrected-to-normal eye-sight and are over 16.

What would I be asked to do if I took part?

In this study, you will be given sets of images of flock of birds in which you have to find hidden bats. Sometimes prompts will appear, suggesting areas that the system believes to be potential bats. It is your task to indicate whether there is a target on the screen or not.

We expect that if you play all the levels of the game it will take less than 2 hours. You may stop as often as you wish, and when you return to the game it will continue from where you left off. If you do not wish to participate, or wish to cease participation, simply close the link to the game. The game is completely safe, with no flashing images, and there are no known adverse effects of playing, or benefits other than the advancement of knowledge.

What happens to the data collected?

The data collected from all participants will be analysed to look for the effects of prompting on human behaviour.

How is confidentiality maintained?

We will record the time spent per image, the targets identified by the player and the order in which the targets were found; we will not record any information which would enable us to identify you, so your responses will be anonymous. The data will be stored on a secure computer at the University of Manchester, and will be accessible only by Georgia Valeria Ionescu (PhD student), Dr Sue Astley (Supervisor) and Dr Johan Hulleman (Supervisor). The data will be deleted on 30/08/2019. In any publication of the work, results will be grouped.

What happens if I do not want to take part or if I change my mind?

It is up to you to decide whether or not to take part. If you decide to take part you are still free to withdraw at any time without giving a reason and without detriment to yourself. If you wish to cease participation, simply close the link to the game. The game is completely safe, with no flashing images, and there are no known adverse effects of playing, or benefits other than the advancement of knowledge.

Will I be paid for participating in the research?

You will not be paid in cash for taking part.

What is the duration of the research?

We expect that if you play all the levels of the game it will take less than 2 hours.

Where will the research be conducted?

The data is collected online.

Will the outcomes of the research be published?

The outcomes of the research will be published. Any publication of the results will only report group data. Who has reviewed the research project?

This project has been approved by the Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology Research Ethics Panel on behalf of the University of Manchester’s Research Ethics Committee.

What if something goes wrong?

The procedures we use are completely safe, and there are no health risks in taking part. If at any point in the experiment you feel the need to take a break or withdraw from participation, you are welcome to do so.

What if I want to make a complaint?

Minor complaints

If you have a minor complaint, then you need to contact the researcher(s) in the first instance:

Dr. Sue Astley – email: sue.astley(at)manchester.ac.uk , phone: 0161 275 5162
Dr. Johan Hulleman – email: johan.hulleman(at)student.manchester.ac.uk, phone: 0161 306 0415
Georgia Ionescu – email: georgiavaleria.ionescu(at)postgrad.manchester.ac.uk

Formal Complaints

If you wish to make a formal complaint or if you are not satisfied with the response you have gained from the researchers in the first instance then please contact the Research Governance and Integrity Manager, Research Office, Christie Building, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, by emailing: research.complaints(at)manchester.ac.uk or by telephoning 0161 275 2674 or 275 2046.

What Do I Do Now?

If you have any queries about the study then please contact the researcher(s)

Georgia Ionescu – email: georgiavaleria.ionescu(at)postgrad.manchester.ac.uk
Dr. Sue Astley – email: sue.astley(at)manchester.ac.uk , phone: 0161 275 5162
Dr. Johan Hulleman – email: johan.hulleman(at)student.manchester.ac.uk, phone: 0161 306 0415