Statement of Informed Consent
A. PURPOSE AND BACKGROUND Researchers at Palo Alto University are running a study. We hope to learn about what it is like to have a pet go missing. The research team is made up of Wendy Packman, JD, PhD, and Ashley Brumett, M.S. It is hoped that the information they learn will help provide more complete care for grieving people and families. You are being asked to participate in this study because you have had a pet go missing. You may take this survey if you are 18 years or older, live in the United States, and are English-speaking.
B. PROCEDURES If you agree to be in the study, you will complete 8 questionnaires about your experience of having a beloved pet go missing, your beliefs about the event, and how you have coped with the event. It should take approximately 45-60 minutes to complete these questionnaires.
C. RISKS/DISCOMFORTS
1. Answering questions about your missing pet may be disturbing to you and/or bring up upsetting memories. After you agree to take the survey, all questions are optional. You may skip any question you do not want to answer. You have the right to decline to participate or to stop taking the survey at any time.
2. Confidentiality: We will take steps to protect the information you give us. You WILL NOT be asked to reveal any type of personally identifying information, such as your name or email address. We will not store your computer's IP address. Only the study team will have access to your responses. The survey does include "open-ended" questions - we ask that you do not share anything that could identify you when answering these questions. We might quote your response to these questions in reports or publications, but we will not include any information that might identify you or anyone else in this study.