INFORMED CONSENT

1. INTRODUCTION
You are invited to be a participant in a research study about romantic partner preference and sexual identity. We ask that you read this page before agreeing to be in the study. This study is being conducted by a research team with collaborators at Austin College (Sherman, Texas, USA), University of Waterloo (Waterloo, Ontario, Canada), and Texas A & M University at Commerce (Commerce, Texas, USA).

2. DURATION
The length of time you will be involved in the study should be approximately 30 minutes but should be no more than 45 minutes.

3. PROCEDURES
If you agree to be in this study, you will respond to an online survey that will ask you questions regarding romantic relationships and questions regarding your sexual identity. While many of the questions are not overly personal or sexual in nature, there are some that ask about your preference for certain broad categories of sexual behavior and about your sexual history.

4. RISKS/BENEFITS
This study contains few real risks or hazards. Some people may find some of the questions to be personal. However, all of your responses are completely anonymous and your honest answers will help us learn more about ways in which sexual identity may relate to people's romantic preferences. The benefit of this study is that you will help contribute to the study of romantic partner preference and in the process become more aware of the research process.

5. CONFIDENTIALITY
The records of this study will be kept private. The data from this research will be stored on the computers of the researchers only. No one else will have access to the data. In the case that a report will be published or a presentation should be given, no information will be given out that would be able to personally identify a participant.

6. VOLUNTARY NATURE OF THE STUDY
Your decision to participate in this research will not affect your current or future relationships with your college, university or organization. If you decide to participate in this study, you are free to withdraw at any time without affecting any aforementioned relationships. Completion of the survey indicates your voluntary consent to participate in this study and that you are at least 18 years old.

7. CONTACTS AND QUESTIONS
The researchers conducting this study are Lisa M. Brown, Steven Spencer, Penny McNatt-Devine and William Harpham. You may contact them if you have any questions regarding this study at 903-813-2218. If you would like to send an email, you can contact Lisa M. Brown at lbrown@austincollege.edu. If you have any additional questions regarding your rights as a research participant, please contact Wayne Meyer (wmeyer@austincollege.edu) for Institutional Review Board at Austin College.

8. STATEMENT OF CONSENT
The procedures of this study have been explained to me. The information that I provide is confidential and will be used for research purposes only. I understand that my participation is voluntary and that I may withdraw at anytime without penalty. If I have any concerns about my experience in this study, I may contact the sponsoring department of this research regarding my concerns. A copy of this form is available to you upon request.

Your participation in this study is greatly appreciated. Thank you for your time.

For further information, please contact:

William Harpham
wharpham@austincollege.edu

Steven Spencer, Ph.D.
sspencer@uwaterloo.ca

Stephen Reysen, Ph.D.
stephen_reysen@tamu-commerce.edu

Penny McNatt-Devine, Ph.D.
pdevine@fscj.edu

Lisa M. Brown, Ph.D.
Chair and Associate Professor of Psychology
Austin College
Department of Psychology
900 N. Grand Ave.
Sherman, TX 75090-4400
USA
903.813.2218
lbrown@austincollege.edu
1. I have read the information above and understand that I am voluntarily choosing to continue the survey, I may refuse to answer any specific item, I may withdraw at any time without penalty, and I have been informed whom to contact if I have any questions or concerns.