SurveyMonkey Powered Online Survey

Exit this survey >>

Martin E. P. Seligman
Department of Psychology
University of Pennsylvania
Consent Form – Friendship study

You are being asked to take part in a research study. Your participation is voluntary which means you can choose whether or not to participate. Before you make a decision you will need to know the purpose of the study, the possible risks and benefits of being in the study and what you will have to do if you decide to participate.

If you do not understand what you are reading, do not agree to participate in this study. Please contact the researcher to explain anything you do not understand, including any language contained in this form. If you decide to participate, you will be asked to confirm this by selecting the appropriate item from the drop down menu at the bottom of this page. Print out and keep a copy of this form—in it you will find contact information and answers to questions about the study. You may contact the experimenter and ask to have this form read to you.

This research project is funded and supported by the Positive Psychology Center and is coordinated by researchers from the Psychology Department at the University of Pennsylvania. If you choose to participate, you will be asked to fill out a series of questionnaires. The following information is provided to inform you about this research project. Please read this carefully and feel free to ask any questions about this study or about the information below by emailing Eranda Jayawickreme at jayawick@sas.upenn.edu.

Item #1: Description of the Study

a) Purpose of the Study. The purpose of this research is to determine how and what determines how we rank our close friends. If you agree to participate, you will be asked to fill out a series of questionnaires.

b) Research Participants.

You are being asked to join this study because you are a student at the University of Pennsylvania, or because you have accessed this survey through the Positive Psychology Center website. We plan to recruit both men and women of different ethnic backgrounds. Participants must be over the age of 18.

c) Procedures to be Followed.

The study will take place over a period of one hour online. All workshop sessions, if needed, will take place at the Positive Psychology Center at 3701 Market Street. Questionnaires will be completed online.

Participants who complete all aspects of the study will receive course credit for their participation through Experimetrix.

Item #2: Inconveniences and Risks:

There will be no financial costs for participating in this research, besides the cost of your normal Internet access. The risks associated with this project are minimal. Any risks would be psychological rather than physical in nature. Participants will be asked to provide personal information on the questionnaires, but all such information will be strictly confidential.

Item #3: Benefits:

This study is being done for research purposes. There may be little or no direct benefits to you. The results of this research could help us understand the dynamics of personal relationships and their effect on well-being, which could benefit you indirectly. This knowledge could also benefit others in the future.

Item #4: Alternatives:

You may choose to join the study or you may choose not to join the study. Your participation is voluntary. There is no penalty if you choose not to join the research study.

If you are a Penn student feel depressed or overwhelmed for any reason, you may also want to contact Counseling and Psychological Services at 215-898-7021. Their address is 133 S. 36th Street, Second Floor, (Corner of 36th and Walnut Streets) and their website is http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/caps/.

1. Item #5: Confidentiality:

Every attempt will be made by the investigators to maintain all information collected in this study strictly confidential and accessible only to the principal investigator and his or her assistants on this project, except as may be required by court order or by law. Authorized representatives of the University of Pennsylvania Institutional Review Board (IRB), a committee charged with protecting the rights and welfare of research participants, may be provided access to research records that identify you by name. If any publication or presentation results from this research, you will not be identified by name. Pertinent information regarding issues such as suicidality or homicidal intent may be shared, as necessary, with clinicians and/or appropriate authorities. Moreover, many State laws require mandatory reporting of homicidal intent and similar circumstances. In such situations your records may be made available to them, even without your consent.

Withdrawal from the Study:

The study is expected to end after all participants have completed the final questionnaire. We may however contact you at a later date for a follow-up study, which you may choose to participate in. Your participation in this study is completely voluntary and you may drop out of the study at any time without penalty.

If you no longer wish to be in the research study, please contact Eranda Jayawickreme at jayawick@sas.upenn.edu or 717-341-9710 and say you would like to withdraw from the study. Participants can also withdraw from the study by writing a request to be withdrawn to the following address:
Eranda Jayawickreme
Positive Psychology Center
3701 Market Street, Suite 200
Philadelphia, PA 19104

If any significant new findings emerge during the course of the study that may relate to participants’ willingness to continue their participation, this information will be provided to all participants. You are free to refuse to answer any and all questions in any of the evaluations or questionnaires. All information collected in this study will be kept strictly confidential, except as may be required by law. If any publication results from this research, you will not be identified by name.

If you have questions about your rights and welfare as a volunteer in the research study please contact the Office of Regulatory Affairs at the University of Pennsylvania at 215-898-2614. If you have any questions about this study, you may contact Eranda Jayawickreme at 717-341-9710.

Please print out this form for your records. By selecting "yes" on this form, you agree to take part in this study as a participant.

Item #5: Confidentiality: Every attempt will be made by the investigators to maintain all information collected in this study strictly confidential and accessible only to the principal investigator and his or her assistants on this project, except as may be required by court order or by law. Authorized representatives of the University of Pennsylvania Institutional Review Board (IRB), a committee charged with protecting the rights and welfare of research participants, may be provided access to research records that identify you by name. If any publication or presentation results from this research, you will not be identified by name. Pertinent information regarding issues such as suicidality or homicidal intent may be shared, as necessary, with clinicians and/or appropriate authorities. Moreover, many State laws require mandatory reporting of homicidal intent and similar circumstances. In such situations your records may be made available to them, even without your consent. Withdrawal from the Study: The study is expected to end after all participants have completed the final questionnaire. We may however contact you at a later date for a follow-up study, which you may choose to participate in. Your participation in this study is completely voluntary and you may drop out of the study at any time without penalty. If you no longer wish to be in the research study, please contact Eranda Jayawickreme at jayawick@sas.upenn.edu or 717-341-9710 and say you would like to withdraw from the study. Participants can also withdraw from the study by writing a request to be withdrawn to the following address: Eranda Jayawickreme Positive Psychology Center 3701 Market Street, Suite 200 Philadelphia, PA 19104 If any significant new findings emerge during the course of the study that may relate to participants’ willingness to continue their participation, this information will be provided to all participants. You are free to refuse to answer any and all questions in any of the evaluations or questionnaires. All information collected in this study will be kept strictly confidential, except as may be required by law. If any publication results from this research, you will not be identified by name. If you have questions about your rights and welfare as a volunteer in the research study please contact the Office of Regulatory Affairs at the University of Pennsylvania at 215-898-2614. If you have any questions about this study, you may contact Eranda Jayawickreme at 717-341-9710. Please print out this form for your records. By selecting "yes" on this form, you agree to take part in this study as a participant.