Introduction: You are being asked to take part in a research study by Dr. Denise Davidson, a faculty member in the Department of Psychology at Loyola University Chicago. You are being asked to participate because you are a student at a college or university who identifies as an individual with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Read this form carefully before deciding whether to participate in the study.
Purpose: The primary objective of this project will be to obtain information about a social support program for college students with ASD, Peers with Autism Learning and Socializing (PALS).
Procedures: If you agree to participate, you will be asked to complete a questionnaire that consists of questions about yourself, about your experiences at school, and about the PALS program. The questionnaire should take approximately 10 to 15 minutes to complete.
Risks/Benefits: There are no foreseeable risks involved in participating in this research beyond those experienced in everyday life. In addition to a chance to win a $75 Visa gift card, your participation in this study will allow us to design a successful social support program for college students with ASD. Choosing to participate in this research will not impact eligibility for services provided through the Student Services with Disabilities (SSWD) Office or other similar offices on your campus.
Compensation: All students who complete a questionnaire via our online link will be entered into one of three random drawings for a $75 Visa gift card. The drawings will occur at the end of all data collection. Participants will have a 1 in 30 chance of winning. In the survey, you will be asked to provide contact information in order to be entered into one of the drawings and to receive compensation should you win. If you do not wish to be entered into the drawing, do not provide your contact information.
Confidentiality: All information will be kept confidential. Informed consent forms will be separated from the data before any data handling begins. Informed consent forms will be stored indefinitely in a locked file cabinet in the principal investigator’s lab. Data will also be stored in a locked file cabinet in the principal investigator’s lab and will only be reported in general form, no individual data will be presented or published. All data will be coded so that names do not appear on any questionnaires. Only the Principal Investigator (Dr. Denise Davidson) and her graduate assistants, Elizabeth Hilvert and Ieva Misiunaite, will have access to the data. Upon completion of the research study, all data will be kept on password-protected computers/external hard drives for five years. Personnel at the Student Services with Disabilities (SSWD) office at your campus will not see your responses to this survey, nor will they know whether you have chosen to participate in this study.
Voluntary Participation: Participation in this study is voluntary. Even if you decide to participate, you do not have to answer questions you do not want to. You may withdraw from participation at any time without penalty.
Contacts and Questions: If you have questions about this study, contact Dr. Denise Davidson at ddavids@luc.edu. If you have questions about your rights as a research participant, contact the Loyola University Office of Research Services at (773) 508-2689.
Statement of Consent: Clicking agree below indicates that you have read the information provided above, have had an opportunity to ask questions, and agree to participate in this research study.