Privacy Policy
Description:
You are invited to participate in a research study on understanding users’ mobile app usage. This study
is conducted by Dr. Masooda Bashir and Dr. Carl Gunter and their research teams from the University of
Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
In this part of study, you will be asked to download a mobile app created by research team from University
of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. By clicking on “Agree” you consent to this application’s collection of a
list of the applications and packages installed on your phone.
You will be provided the opportunity to view the applications currently stored on your phone. No
identifying information will be collected about you.
Your decision to participate or decline participation in this study is completely voluntary and you have
the right to terminate your participation at any time without penalty. If you do not wish to complete this
part of survey, please just uninstall or stop installing the app.
If you have questions about this project, you may contact Dr. Bashir and Dr. Gunter’s research team at
research1139@illinois.edu or (217) 333-3280.
Faculty, staff, students, and others with permission or authority to see your study information will
maintain its confidentiality to the extent permitted and required by laws and university policies. The
names or personal identifiers of participants will not be published or presented.
If you have any questions about your rights as a participant in this study or any concerns or complaints,
please contact the University of Illinois Office for the Protection of Research Subjects at 217-333-2670
or via email at irb@illinois.edu.
After selecting “Agree”, your mobile phone will transmit information about the applications on your phone to researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Device data will include information about the application packages stored on your phone and uninstalled packages. Your mobile phone will not transfer content contained in those applications. Only the metadata about the applications will be collected and transferred by the application. This includes the application version, list of permissions, first install time, last update time, flags, the UID, and market.
Time Involvement:
Your participation is expected to take between five and seven minutes.
Risks and Benefits:
While we will take reasonable precautions to secure the data that you provide, there does remain a risk of inadvertent disclosure. We anticipate the benefits from this study to include informing policymakers and the public about the privacy properties mobile application data. We cannot and do not guarantee or promise that you will receive any benefits from this study. Your decision whether or not to participate in this study will not affect your employment, medical care, or grades in school.
Payments:
You will not receive payment for your participation.
Participant’s Rights:
Your participation in this study is voluntary. You have the right to withdraw your consent or discontinue participation at any time without penalty or loss of benefits to which you are otherwise entitled. The alternative is not to participate. The results of this research study may be presented at scientific or professional meetings or published in scientific journals. With your permission, your identity will be made known in written materials resulting from the study.
Age and Competence:
This study is only open to persons who are at least 18 years of age and who are competent to consent. If you elect to participate, you affirm that you are at least 18 years of age and are competent to consent.
Contact Information and Questions:
If you have any questions, concerns, or complaints about this research, its procedures, risks, and benefits, please contact Dr. Bashir and Dr. Gunter’s research team at
research1139@illinois.edu or (217) 333-3280.
If you are not satisfied with how this study is being conducted, or if you have any concerns, complaints, or general questions about the research or your rights as a participant, please contact the University of Illinois Institutional Review Board at 217-333-2670 or via email at irb@illinois.edu.