INTERPRETING VRS RESEARCH SURVEY

Dear Interpreter Colleague:

My name is Dawn M. Wessling and I am a faculty member at the University of North Florida.  I am conducting a research study that seeks to identify instances where client's emotional extremes have affected signed language interpreters in a Video Relay Service environment and to identify coping strategies used by the interpreter.   I am collecting information via a survey about interpreter's experiences working within VRS environment during the previous   2 year period.  The survey will take approximately 30 minutes and will be anonymous.   I will not be asking you to disclose any information that would be a violation of the Code of Professional Conduct nor of your company's internal policies.  Your name will not be retained nor will it appear anywhere within my data collection.   Additionally, the company for which you work will not be documented.  Participation in this study is voluntary and you may skip any question you do not wish to answer or leave the survey website at any time without penalty or loss of benefits to which you would otherwise receive.

All survey information related to this study will be password protected and only available to me and to my Principal Investigator, Dr. Sherry Shaw.  Any hard copy data collected via the survey will be stored in a locked cabinet in the offices of the Co-Principal Investigator on the University of North Florida campus.  Any virtual data will be stored on a password-protected computer within my offices located at the University of North Florida. 

I hope to be able to increase our pool of knowledge regarding the work that we do in this very specialized setting.  My hope is that this study may lead to better understanding of the impact of this work environment and to gather tools that have helped interpreters continue to provide services in this needed field of interpreting.  While there has been some research on the emotional impact of our clients upon interpreters and the process of interpreting, there has been very little research about the impact of the specific environment concurrently with the emotional impact. 

If you are willing to complete this survey, please go to: 

 

 

 https://survey.unf.edu/survey/se.ashx?s=5A1E27D2002E7AE1 

 

 

If you have any questions, you may email me at dawn.m.wessling [@]  unf.edu or call me at 904.620.5200 (voice).  I will be more than happy to answer any of your questions.  You may also speak with the Principal Investigator, Dr. Sherry Shaw.  She may be emailed at sherry.shaw [@] unf.edu or reached by phone at 904.620.1811.

 

Kindly,

Dawn M. Wessling

M.Ed, NIC Master

Staff Interpreter/Instructor

University of North Florida

Dept. of Exceptional, Deaf & Interpreter Education

College of Education & Human Services

1 UNF Drive, Bldg. 57, Room 3521

Jacksonville, FL 32224

Office:  904.620.5200 voice

VP:  904.999.4248