Privacy Policy

Effective Date: September 30, 2025
Last Updated: September 30, 2025

This Privacy Policy explains how the Psych 108 Reading Tracker App (“the App”) collects, uses, and protects information provided by users participating in the Introduction to Cognitive Psychology course study at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB).

This study has been reviewed and approved by the UCSB Human Subjects Committee (Protocol #245-25-0494; Approval Valid Through 2035).

1. Information We Collect

The App collects only the data required for educational research and course-related credit:

  • Survey responses (onboarding and offboarding)

  • Weekly check-in responses and self-ratings of reading completion

  • Subtask completion data (checkmarks and timestamps)

  • Basic demographics (age, gender, academic year, optional ethnicity)

We do not collect location, contacts, photos, audio, video, or any other device data.

2. How We Use Your Information

Your information is used solely to evaluate how students engage with their weekly readings and to study the relationship between app use and procrastination behavior.

Aggregated and de-identified data may be used for research reports, academic publications, or presentations, but no personally identifiable information will ever be shared.

3. Data Storage and Security

  • All data are stored on Firebase Cloud Storage, which uses industry-standard encryption (in transit and at rest) and is compliant with ISO/IEC 27001, SOC 1/2/3, and GDPR standards.

  • After the academic quarter ends and final grades are submitted, data are exported to UCSB Box, a password-protected, encrypted research storage system.

  • Access is restricted to authorized research personnel only (Dr. Jonathan Schooler and graduate researcher Anusha Garg).

You will be instructed to delete the App from your device at the end of the quarter to ensure no further data collection occurs.

4. Data Retention and De-Identification

All personally identifiable information (e.g., your name for extra credit assignment) is stored separately from your App data and removed before analysis.
De-identified data may be retained for future research that advances understanding of academic engagement and procrastination, in accordance with UCSB policy.

5. Sharing of Data

We do not sell, rent, or share your personal information with any third parties.
Only de-identified, aggregate data may be shared for scientific purposes.

Your final course grade in Psych 108 may be shared only with the research team and only for linking study participation with course outcomes. No other academic records (e.g., GPA or grades from other courses) will ever be accessed or sharedConsentForm_0ProtocolDetail.

6. Voluntary Participation and Withdrawal

Participation in this study is completely voluntary. You may withdraw at any time without penalty or loss of benefits.
If you withdraw early, your data up to that point will remain confidential and may still be used in aggregate form unless you request otherwise.

7. Your Rights

You have the right to:

  • Access or request deletion of your data before it is de-identified.

  • Withdraw your consent for data use at any time by contacting the research team.

  • Ask questions about how your data are used or stored.

8. Contact Information

For questions about this study or your data:
Anusha Garg – Graduate Researcher
Email: anushagarg@ucsb.edu

Dr. Jonathan Schooler – Principal Investigator
Email: schooler@psych.ucsb.edu

For questions about your rights as a research participant:
UCSB Human Subjects Committee
Phone: (805) 893-3807
Email: hsc@research.ucsb.edu

9. Policy Updates

This policy may be updated to reflect compliance with new university or legal requirements. Any material changes will be posted in the App and communicated to users through Canvas announcements.

Would you like me to also make a condensed App Store “Privacy Summary” (with Apple’s required fields like Data Linked to You, Not Collected, etc.)? That’s the version Apple requires in App Store Connect.