If you …
1) Identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual
2) Are at least 18 years old

then I would like to invite you to participate in an online survey.

STUDY PURPOSE - This page describes a research study that Dr. Richard Ryan, principal investigator from the University of Rochester, is conducting in order to understand how coming out as lesbian, gay and bisexual is related to well-being. This study has been approved by the Rochester University Institutional Review Board (case #28267) and involves no more then minimal risk.

STUDY PROCEDURE - The study involves an online survey that will take approximately 20-30 minutes. The survey contains some personal questions about you, your relationships, and your sexual identity. We would like you to complete the whole survey, but you may skip any questions that you don’t feel comfortable answering or that you feel do not apply to you. At the end of the survey you will be given the option to enter a raffle for multiple chances to win a $50 Visa gift card.

CONFIDENTIALITY - For participants completing the survey, responses will be kept in an anonymous manner. This means that there is no way for your identity to be linked to your responses. The responses of all participants will be stored numerically and only the investigators on the study will have access to that data. Only summarized data will be presented at meetings or in any publications. At the end of the survey, you will be given an opportunity to participate in a raffle. Respondents wanting to enter the raffle will need to provide an email address. This is the only identifying information that will be collected in the study and it will be used to notify the winners of the raffle. This information will be kept in a strictly confidential manner. It will not be shared with third parties and only investigators on the study will have access to that data.

RISKS - If you participate, there is a risk that you might experience some discomfort from answering questions about your relationships and feelings about your sexual identity. You should also be aware, however there is a small possibility that responses could be viewed by unauthorized parties (e.g. computer hackers) because your responses are being entered and stored on a “https” server.

BENEFITS – Participants who complete the survey will have the opportunity to enter a raffle for multiple chances to win a $50 Visa gift card.

VOLUNTARY PARTICIPATION - Your participation in this study is completely voluntary. You are free not to participate or withdraw at any time, for whatever reason without penalty or loss of benefit to which you are entitled. Your answers will be kept strictly confidential.

For more information about this research or if you feel that your participation has resulted in any emotional or physical discomfort you should contact: Nicole Legate at:

University of Rochester, Department of Clinical and Social Psychology
RC Box 270266
Rochester, NY 14627-0266
nlegate@psych.rochester.edu

If you have any questions about your rights as a research subject, or any concerns or complaints you may contact: The Human Subjects Protection Specialist at the University of Rochester Research Subjects Review Board, Telephone: 011-585-276-0005. You may also call toll-free at 011-877-449-4441. You may also call this number if you cannot reach the research staff or wish to talk to someone else.

If you are interested in participating in the survey, please click on the link below. Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,
Richard Ryan, Ph.D.