Informed Consent to Participate in a Research Study
Project Title: Happy as I Am? Disability, Identity, and Life Satisfaction Researcher: Emily Perkins, FLOW Lab, Alma College
Faculty Supervisor: Dr. Elizabeth Boyd (boydem@alma.edu)
What is this study about?
In the field of psychology, many aspects contribute to a person’s self-concept, or how they see themselves and what they feel is important to them. Although there is a significant amount of research in this area, there is a lack of representation for individuals with disabilities and how this identity fits into one’s self-concept. In order to begin looking at how having a disability may affect a person’s sense of self, this study will investigate two specific details to see if there is any relationship between them and an individual’s identity. These details are the onset and severity of a disability. The study will then investigate how a person identifies with their disability and the impact that has on life satisfaction and language preferences. Language preferences are between person- first and identity-first language, which means some people prefer being referred to as a disabled person, and others prefer being referred to as a person with a disability. The study will look to see if there is any correlation between stronger disability identity and life satisfaction, as well as investigate how stronger disability identity might impact language preferences. In this study, the target audience will be individuals who have a physical disability. Overall, this will further research in the field of identity because it will explore how identity may appear for a specific group of people, and it may even allow for identifying people who may need extra support if there is a correlation between identity and life satisfaction. We are conducting a study to better understand how the onset and severity of a disability relate to identity and life satisfaction. Your responses will help us learn more about how these factors of a disability contribute to identity and satisfaction of life.
What will I be asked to do?
You will be asked to complete an online survey that will take approximately 10–15 minutes. The survey includes questions about when you became disabled, how much of your daily life is impacted, how you rank aspects of your identity, and how satisfied you are with your life.
Are there any risks or benefits?
There are no known risks beyond what you’d experience in daily life. Some questions might make you reflect on stressful experiences. You may skip any question you don’t want to answer.
Upon completion of this study, your participation may help researchers better understand disability identity.
Will my information be kept private?
Yes. Your responses are anonymous and will be stored securely. No identifying information will be collected.
Do I have to participate?
No. Participation is completely voluntary. You may stop at any time without penalty.
Who can I contact with questions?
If you have questions about the study, contact Emily Perkins at perkins1er@alma.edu.
If you have questions about your rights as a participant, contact the Alma College IRB Chair at setter@alma.edu.
By clicking “Yes” on the next question, you are indicating that you are at least 18 years old and agree to participate. Please select "No" if you under 18 years old or do not wish to continue the survey.