CyberStalking Victimization in the LGBTQ Community Survey

What is the Impact of Gender Identity on Cyberstalking Victimization in the LGBTQ Community?

TERMS OF  CONSENT

Please read before continuing to the survey.

BACKGROUND
There is a lack of empirical knowledge around cyber stalking and cyber victimization within the LGBTQ community. Of the few studies that included sexual orientation as a variable, sexual orientation wasn’t then identified in the findings or the numbers of LGBTQ participants were so low compared to the heterosexual participants that we may not be able to generalize the findings to the LGBTQ population, nor can we validate findings to past studies.

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE STUDY?
This study will add to the research on cyberstalking and cyber-lifestyle routine activities theory, with a specific focus on gender identity and sexual orientation and how it relates to cyber victimization. While being the first to have large scale data and empirical findings for the LGBTQ community.

WHY ARE YOU BEING INVITED?

Because you are:

·      19 years or older

·      Identify as: Gay, Lesbian, Bi, Trans, Queer or Other.

·      And/or you are in a relationship with someone who is trans, gay, lesbian, bi, queer or other. This can mean you identify as straight but are in a relationship with someone who identifies as Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Trans, Queer or Other.

You should NOT take part in this study if you are:

·      Under the age of 19 years old

·      Do not identify as Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Trans, Queer or Other.

·      You identify as straight and you are not Trans or two-spirit and are not in a relationship with someone who identifies as part of the LGBTQ community.

WHAT WOULD I HAVE TO DO?
If you fit the criteria for the survey and have read the terms of this consent. You will follow the link to the survey at the bottom of the page and take a survey of 18 questions which will take about 5 minutes to complete.

WHAT ARE THE RISKS?
While security measures are in place and all participants will be data anonymized.

A member of the LGBTQ community could potentially recognize someone who participated in the survey – or Facebook records who visited the survey.   This could be used to monitor the Facebook account of the participant and stalk or bully more.

You may find some questions in the survey triggering unpleasant/upsetting memories.

You may skip any question you are not comfortable answering and there is free counselling provided at the following:

Lesbian Gay Bi Trans Youth Line (Canada)
1-800-268-9688 or text 647-694-4275
http://www.youthline.ca/

Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention Centre of British Columbia
1-800-784-2433
http://www.crisiscentrechat.ca/

WILL I BENEFIT IF I TAKE PART?
If you agree to participate in this study there may not be a direct benefit to you. The study seeks to provide data to inform cyberstalking policies, and broaden the conversation to include and bring awareness to the LGBTQ experiences with cyberstalking. With the hope to bring forward more inclusive policies which may benefit the LGBTQ community at large.

DO I HAVE TO PARTICIPATE?
You are under no obligation to participate in this research. Voluntariness and Withdrawal of consent.
You may withdraw from the survey at any time. Simply by not submitting the survey. If they complete the survey and wish to withdraw, you may email the research at mkirkpatrick12@my.bcit.ca

QUESTIONS
If you have further questions concerning matters related to this research, please contact me at mkirkpatrick12@my.bcit.ca Or if you have any concerns about you rights or treatment as a research participant you may contact Chair of the BCIT Research Ethics Board, Allison Kirschenmann, at 604-451-6917 or email research_ethics@bcit.ca."

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* 1. How old are you?

19-25

26-35

36-45

45-50

50+

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* 2. What is your gender?

Male

Female

Trans male

Trans female

Other (please specify)

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* 3. What is your sexual orientation?

Gay

Lesbian

Bisexual

Queer

Other, please specify

Other (please specify)

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* 4. What is you ethnicity ?

Caucasian

Indigenous

African

Chinese

South Asian

Middle Eastern

Hispanic

Other (please specify)

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* 5. What is the highest level of school you have completed?

Less than secondary school

Secondary school

Some university

Bachelor degree

Post-graduate degree

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* 6. Would you consider yourself gender non-conforming? For example are you a female the presents more androgynous or masculine or a male that presents more androgynous or feminine in appearance.

Yes

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* 7. Have you used online dating sites?

Yes

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* 8. In the last 6 months have you been in an intimate relationship?

Yes

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* 9. How "out of the closet" are you in your life? Please check all that apply.

Out to friends

Out to Family

Out to Coworkers

Out to Strangers

Skip

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* 10. Are you out online? Please check all that apply.

Out to friends

Out to Family

Out to Coworkers

Out to Strangers

Skip

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* 11. How many contacts do you have on social media networking sites?

under 50

50- 200

over 200

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* 12. What kind of protective measures do you take online? Please select all that apply.

None

I don’t use my real name or birthday

I don’t post about where I am going

I use privacy filters on social media to limit who can see my posts.

I don’t let strangers friend or follow me online

Skip

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* 13. Warning: Some Participants may find the following questions triggering. You may skip any question and find resources at the end of the survey.

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* 14. Have you ever experienced any of the following? Please select all that apply.

Had unwanted messages ( text, email, chat) that were threatening, harassing or sexual in nature by someone you knew.

Had unwanted messages ( text, email, chat) that were threatening, harassing or sexual in nature by someone you did not know.

Never had unwanted messages online.

Skip

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* 15. Have you experienced cyberstalking behaviour (receiving unwanted texts or messages that are threatening or harassing or sexual in nature, that made you upset or fear for your safety) from an intimate partner?

Yes

Skip

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* 16. Did you report the behaviour? Please select all that apply.

No, I did not.

Yes, to a friend

Yes, to a parent

Yes, to my partner

Yes, to the police

Skip

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* 17. Did the cyberstalking behaviour stop?

Yes

Skip

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* 18. Did the cyberstalking behaviour (receiving unwanted texts or messages that are threatening or harassing or sexual in nature,that made you upset or fear for your safety) escalate offline?

Yes

Skip

This is the end of the survey, please find the links below should you require support.

Lesbian Gay Bi Trans Youth Line ( Canada)
1800-268-9688 or text 647-694-4275
http://www.youthline.ca

Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention Centre of British Columbia
1800-784-2433
http://www.crisiscentrechat.ca

If you have any questions or would like a copy of the anonymized results of the survey please contact me at mkirkpatrick12@my.bcit.ca
By clicking the submitting this survey it will be assumed that consent has been given.
Thank you for participating.