I’m an academic researcher working on a project about politics. I'm looking at where and why we tend to agree and disagree with each other, about politics and other topics, and how we feel about political parties and politicians in the United States.

I'm asking you to take a very short survey (5-10 minutes) to tell me more about your perspectives and opinions on these things. I'll also ask you to give me some basic information about who you are (e.g., age). I will use your answers to help complete my research.

If you are interested, at the end of the survey you will have the option to sign up to also participate in an interview (45-60 minutes). If you are interested in participating in an interview, I will ask you to provide your contact information (name, email address).

You might be nervous about being asked about politics. I understand. Unless you share your contact information with me at the end, this survey is completely anonymous. Feeling nervous or uncomfortable is still a risk of participating. Here is what we can do to address these feelings:
  • If you feel uncomfortable with a question, you can skip it.
  • If you are in the middle of the survey and you no longer want to participate you can stop. You can do this at any time. No penalty.
Data leaks are always a risk. These can expose what you share for this study. I will make every attempt to ensure that your data is secure and that what you say remains confidential. Here is what I can do to address this potential problem:
  • Give your information and files alternative names when I save and store them.
  • Encrypting, safely storing, and limiting access to files that contain information that identifies you.
  • I will not share your files or information with anyone who does not have authorization to access it.
  • I will delete any personal or identifying information that you share accidentally.
You also do not directly benefit from participating in this study. But the results of this study can benefit our communities more broadly, providing an important human-centered explanation for local political dynamics that is missing from most books about politics in the United States today.

Please check out the project website to learn more about me and my research HERE. If you still have questions, send me an email at Melissa.Maceyko@csulb.edu.

And if you ever have specific questions about your rights as a research participant, you can reach out to the CSULB Institutional Review Board (IRB) at IRB@csulb.edu, or call (562) 985-8147. An IRB is a committee that reviews research to ensure that the rights and welfare of research participants are protected. They will reinforce the following points about your rights:
  • Your participation is voluntary.
  • Refusing to participate will involve no penalty or loss of benefits to which you are otherwise entitled.
  • You may withdraw your consent and discontinue your participation at any time without penalty or loss of benefits to which you are otherwise entitled.
If you move forward with the survey, you are acknowledging that you are voluntarily agreeing to participate in the study. You are also acknowledging that I have clearly explained the project and your risks as a participant. In other words, by clicking “I consent,” you confirm that you are at least 18 years old, have read and understood the purpose, procedures, risks, and benefits of the study, and that you voluntarily consent to participate.

Question Title

1. By clicking “I consent,” you confirm that you are at least 18 years old, have read and understood the purpose, procedures, risks, and benefits of the study, and that you voluntarily consent to participate. (Required.)

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