Gig Cities
Gig Cities
 

What we want to find out

This project, led by Associate Professor David Bissell at the University of Melbourne, is investigating how gig economy services such as Uber, Deliveroo and Airtasker, etc. are changing the way that people work.

This part of the project is exploring the experiences of people who have been undertaking gig work during COVID-19.

Who we want to talk to

If you live in Melbourne and have been using gig economy apps for work during COVID-19, such as for ridesharing, delivery, hospitality, labour services, freelancing, or caregiving, we would like to hear from you. 

We are really interested in hearing your stories about the challenges of doing gig work during COVID-19, and the opportunities and difficulties that gig work might have provided during this time.

What is involved 

  • Should you agree to participate, we will arrange an online interview with you at a time that suits you. 

  • The interview will last no longer than 45 minutes. The interview style will be open-ended and conversational rather than a series of closed-questions.

  • Subject to your permission, we would appreciate sound-recording the interview. If you would prefer not to be recorded, brief notes will be made of our conversation after the interview. The sound file will only be used for transcription.

  • This is an independent academic project funded by the Australian Research Council and is not affiliated with any gig economy service provider.

  • You will receive a small reimbursement of $50 as a token of our appreciation.

 
 

Please complete the short survey below and we will be in touch shortly

Information about confidentiality, anonymity and use of data can be found below the survey form.

 

Your participation will help us to understand how gig economy mobile apps are changing cities during COVID-19

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Confidentiality

Participation is entirely voluntary and you can decide to withdraw from the project at any time, and without reason. If you decide to withdraw, there will be no negative consequences, and your data will not be used.

Anonymity 

Unless you request to be identified, conversation will be de-identified. Unattributed quotes and descriptions based on our interview may be used in project outcomes. Reference made to any off-record topics of conversation in the project outcomes will be generalised to ensure that you will not be personally identifiable. 

Permissions

Even with de-identification, there is still a small risk that you might be identified by what you tell us. In order to manage those risks the following safeguards have been put in place: 

  • If you mention something identifiable which cannot be de-identified or generalised, we will either seek further permission from you to use it or we will not use it at all. 

  • You also have the option to review, edit and veto the use of your transcript or parts of the transcript. 

Use of data

Only Dr David Bissell and Dr Elizabeth Straughan will have access to the transcripts and the sound recordings which will be typed-up and safely stored in password-protected, encrypted files at the University of Melbourne and kept for five years. After this time, the data will be securely erased. The third-party used to type up the interview will only have temporary access to the sound recording and will sign a confidentiality agreement to protect the confidentiality of the information. 

Ethics approval

This research project has been approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee of The University of Melbourne (protocol 1852647.3). If you have any concerns or complaints about the conduct of this research project, which you do not wish to discuss with the research team, you should contact the Manager, Human Research Ethics, Research Ethics and Integrity, University of Melbourne, VIC 3010. Tel: +61 3 8344 2073 or Email: HumanEthics-complaints@unimelb.edu.au. All complaints will be treated confidentially.