INTRODUCTION
The purposes of this section are to give you information that may affect your decision whether to say YES or NO to participating in this research and to record the consent of those who say YES.
RESEARCHERS:
Daniel Svoboda
Graduate Student
School of Psychology
Dr. Michelle Kowalski, Faculty Supervisor
Tiffin University
Phone: 419-989-0360
E-mail kowalskimm@tiffin.edu
DESCRIPTION OF RESEARCH STUDY
If you decide to participate, you will join a study involving research into the opinions and attitudes on mental illness of the members of the concertgoing community that engage through this and other fan websites and forums. The study consists of a set of questions that will ask you to rate your feelings, opinions, and experiences on mental illness within the fan communities you are associated with as a frequent concertgoer.
RISKS
If you decide to participate in this study, and if you are asked about personal experiences and/or opinions-- then you may face a risk of identifying negative thoughts or feelings related to unpleasant past/present experiences, so there is a remote chance that answering these questions might make you feel anxious or ill at ease. If this occurs, you may stop from participating at any time without penalty. The researchers also will be willing to provide the names and contact information of local counseling or substance abuse assessment and treatment services, (or on-campus services), should you decide this would be helpful. Educational information can also be provided upon request. For help with mental health or addiction, you can call the hotline number. 1-866-899-2192
Note: You or your medical insurance may be billed for this service. No other medical treatment or financial compensation for injury from participation in this project is available.
The researcher will try to reduce these risks by assuring the confidentiality of your responses, and by identifying any support services available in your area if needed, or by the ability to discontinue at any time. And, as with any research, there is some possibility that you may be subject to risks that have not yet been identified.
COSTS AND PAYMENTS
The researchers want your decision about participating in this study to be absolutely voluntary. The researchers are unable to give you any payment for participating in this study.
NEW INFORMATION
If the researchers find new information during this study that would reasonably change your decision about participating, then they will give it to you.
CONFIDENTIALITY
The researchers will take "reasonable" steps...to keep private information, such as questionnaires, confidential. The results of this study may be used in reports, presentations, and publications; but the researcher will not identify you. Confidentiality will be maintained to the limits of the law. Confidentiality may not be maintained if you indicate that you may do harm to yourself or are placing yourself in an immediate harmful situation—or if you may do/have done harm to others. In cases where one is thought to pose an imminent risk of harm, the appropriate healthcare providers and/or parents/guardians may be contacted.
All responses collected in this research will be analyzed in aggregate form, and no names will be linked to the analysis. Consent forms are separated and not linked to identifying information.
Your confidentiality will also be maintained to the degree permitted by the technology used, thus no guarantees can be made regarding the interception of data sent via the Internet, web-based services and/or by any third parties, but every attempt to safeguard your data will be made.