How pets effect the everyday lives of people experiencing poverty and/or precarity
Consent
Please read this form carefully and ask any questions you may have before agreeing to take part in the study.
What the study is about: The purpose of this study is to learn how pets affect the lives of people experiencing poverty/precarity. To participate, you either currently have pets or have had pets previously, and while having pets you have experienced poverty and/or precarity in your life.
What we will ask you to do: If you agree to be in this study, you will fill out a survey. The survey will include questions about your pets, involvement with the community, experiences with service providers, your ideas for improving/creating assistance programs, and how pets affect your health and relationships. The survey will take about 15 minutes to complete.
You will also have the opportunity to check a box stating if you would be interested in being interviewed further. The interview is focused on an opportunity to share your stories and experiences related to pets, precarity and/or poverty and also your ideas on how individuals, communities, service providers and government can improve their services. The interview is self directed and may take 30-60 minutes dependent on your time and how much you would like to share. With your permission, we would also like to tape-record the interview.
Risks and benefits: There is the risk that you may find some of the questions about your pets or situation challenging or sensitive. There are no immediate benefits to you beyond the opportunity to share your experiences and ideas for improving community programs related to poverty and pets. Your ideas may be used to indirectly or directly contribute to future community services. If desired, you can ask for a list of community organizations near you that may be helpful for you or your pets. Receiving this list does not depend on your participation and is available at any time.
Compensation: There is no compensation.
Confidentiality: Your answers will be confidential. The records of this study will be kept private. In any reporting we make public we will not include any information that will make it possible to identify you. Research records will be kept in a locked file; only the researchers will have access to the records. If we tape-record the interview, we will destroy the tape after it has been transcribed, which we anticipate will be within two months of its taping.
Taking part is voluntary: Taking part in this study is completely voluntary. You may skip any questions that you do not want to answer. If you decide not to take part or to skip some of the questions, it will not affect your relationship with Second Hope Circle or any other community service program. If you decide to take part, you are free to withdraw at any time.
Accessibility: Having difficulty completing the survey online? Paper copies are an option. Please use the contact information below to be connected with an organization distributing and collecting the print version.
If you have questions: The student researcher conducting this study is Kimberley Richards. Please ask any questions you have now. If you have questions later, you may contact Kimberley Richards at kimberley.richards@valpo.edu or 905-483-7075. If you wish to speak with the supervising faculty member, please contact Mary Pat Champaux at marypat@humaneeducation.org or 207-667-1172.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding your rights as a subject in this study, you may contact the Office of Sponsored Research at 219-464-5798 or access their website https://www.valpo.edu/sponsored-and-undergraduate-research/sponsored-research/institutional-review-board-2/.