Dear Reader,
You are invited to participate in a research study by answering the attached survey about beliefs concerning prayer. There is minimal risk of minor psychological discomfort for your participation in this research study, as questions involve prayer behavior and psychological well-being. The information collected may not benefit you directly. The information you provide will help us to learn more about individual well-being and beliefs about prayer, if any, and help direct further research regarding individual well-being and prayer beliefs. Your completed survey will be stored at the Department of Education and Counseling Psychology, but there will be no identifying information connecting your data to you. The survey will take approximately 20-25 minutes to complete. The researchers would like you to further participate in this study by responding to the same survey up to two times in the next few months. For this purpose there will be an opportunity for you to leave contact information at the end of this survey. This contact information will be recorded on a separate webpage not affiliated with this survey. Your contact information to further participate in this study will not be associated to the information you provide to the current survey, nor will be it associated with answers you give in the future. Researchers will only contact you if you choose to leave contact information.
Survey data are password-protected and will be accessed only by the researchers involved in this study. Individuals from the Department of Education and Counseling Psychology, the Institutional Review Board (IRB), the Human Subjects Protection Program Office (HSPPO), and other regulatory agencies may inspect these records. In all other respects, however, the data will be held in confidence to the extent permitted by law. Should the data be published, your identity will not be disclosed. Although we have taken reasonable precautions to protect your identity, it should be noted that online research presents the risk of internet hackers gaining access to any information you provide. However, this risk is minimal.
Taking part in this study is voluntary. All individuals, regardless of religious affiliation or no affiliation, are invited and encouraged to participate in this online survey. By completing this survey you agree to take part in this research study. You do not have to answer any questions that make you uncomfortable. You may choose not to take part at all. If you decide to be in this study you may stop taking part at any time. If you decide not to be in this study or if you stop taking part at any time, you will not lose any benefits for which you may qualify.
If you have any questions, concerns, or complaints about the research study, please contact: Dr. Patrick Pössel at (502)852-0623.
If you have any questions about your rights as a research subject, you may call the Human Subjects Protection Program Office at (502) 852-5188. You can discuss any questions about your rights as a research subject, in private, with a member of the Institutional Review Board (IRB). You may also call this number if you have other questions about the research, and you cannot reach the research staff, or want to talk to someone else. The IRB is an independent committee made up of people from the University community, staff of the institutions, as well as people from the community not connected with these institutions. The IRB has reviewed this research study.
If you have concerns or complaints about the research or research staff and you do not wish to give your name, you may call 1-877-852-1167. This is a 24 hour hot line answered by people who do not work at the University of Louisville.
Sincerely,
Patrick Pössel
Ben Jeppsen
Afia Tariq
Stephanie Winkeljohn Black