The purpose of this study is to decide if students placed in cooperative groups based on personality traits are more successful than students placed randomly. Students will

identify their own personality strengths using a survey provided by the researchers. After completing the survey, a number of students will be placed in cooperative groups

based on their self-identified traits. The remaining students will be placed in cooperative groups randomly. As the groups proceed through a WebQuest project, they will be asked to keep a journal, complete self-analyzing surveys, and be interviewed by a researcher. Upon completion of the project, the data collected by the researchers will be used to decide if the original hypothesis is indeed valid. The potential benefits can be found in the concluding data where cooperative groups, placed by personality traits, are

more successful than randomly placed groups. Both teachers and students will be able to identify benefits. Teachers will find that classroom management, the completion of group assignments, and retention of curriculum will improve. Students will discover that group dynamics, task completion, and project grades will improve. There are potentially no risks identified at this time. All subjects have the right to refuse to participate in the study, although coursework that pertains to the curriculum will be completed as required. All information gathered will be held in the strictest confidentiality and will be

released only with the subjects written approval. Please refer to the Experimental Subjects Bill of Rights on the preceding page.

If you have any questions, please contact the GUSD District office at 857-3592. The

study is scheduled over a three week period in April 2001.

Sincerely,

Richard Klug

Deborah Bertolucci

Ken Johnson

I grant permission for my child to I agree to participate in the study

participate in the study as outlined above. as outlined above.

______________________________ ___________________________

(Parent signature) (Student signature)

Date________________ Date__________________