Thank you for agreeing to consider participating in this research project. Before deciding whether or not you wish to take part, I feel that it is important that you understand the reason why the research is being conducted, and what your participation will involve. Please take the time to read the following information carefully and feel free to discuss it with other people if you wish. Please do not hesitate to contact us if any of the information is unclear, or if you wish to further discuss your participation in this study.
What is the aim of the study, and what do I need to do?
This study aims to develop an understanding of sexual behaviours and psychological variables relating to sexual interests. In order to achieve the objectives of the study, we are recruiting people with a range of interests and asking a range of questions (e.g., related to predominant interests, behaviours, and activities such as sex/love doll use). You will be required to complete a series of questions and an implicit association test that relate to sensitive themes, such as your attitudes, behaviours and thinking styles about sex, as well as questions about your mental health. This study should take approximately 20 minutes to complete.
What will happen to the information I provide in this study?
The information from this study will be used in the findings and conclusions of the research. The data will be kept on a secure server which will only be accessed by the research team, to make sure your data is secure. When the study is published, an anonymous data file will be made available for other researchers to access using the open science framework. You will never be able to be identified in any publication or data file.
How will the research team deal with confidentiality and protect my anonymity?
Data will only be used for purposes related to this project. When you complete this study, you will be asked to pick a unique identifier, which will be used to keep the data anonymous and will not be referred to in the write-up of this study, so that the your confidentiality is ensured. No identifying information will be requested. You should keep a record of this unique identifier, as it will need to be quoted if you wish to withdraw.
What will happen to the results of the research?
Aggregated data may be published in academic journals, and be presented at academic conferences. The results of the study can be made available to you as a report, upon request, when the research is completed. For more information about the project, please feel free to contact the research team.
Has the study been reviewed by anyone?
The research has been subject to ethical approval by the University’s School of Social Sciences Research Ethics Committee. It has been designed with reference to the British Psychological Society’s code of ethics.
Do I have to take part?
No, your participation in this research is voluntary. You can also withdraw from the study at any time within two weeks after completing the study. If you wish to withdraw from the study after you have completed the survey, you should contact the research team by sending an anonymous letter or making an anonymous phone call (providing the name of the research, your unique identifier and stating your wish to withdraw). You do not need to provide a reason if you wish to withdraw. Contact details can be found below.
Voluntary nature of the research and anonymity
Your participation in this research is voluntary and you can refuse to answer any of the questions put to you. You may also withdraw your research data within two weeks of completing the study. Your name and personal information will not be connected to your responses, and information that would make it possible to identify you will not be included in the report. The data will be kept on a secure server to ensure that it is completely anonymous.
If you have any questions regarding the study, please contact Dr Craig Harper on the contact details found below. Support numbers will also be made available to you at the end of the study in case you find any aspects of the study upsetting or distressing.
Research lead contact details:
Dr. Craig Harper
Department of Psychology, Chaucer Building – Room 4104
Nottingham Trent University, 50 Shakespeare Street, Nottingham, NG1 4FQ
Tel. 0115 848 4718
Email: craig.harper@ntu.ac.uk
Rebecca Lievesley
Department of Psychology, Chaucer Building – Room 4004
Nottingham Trent University, 50 Shakespeare Street, Nottingham, NG1 4FQ
Tel. 0115 848 2602
Email: craig.harper@ntu.ac.uk
Thank you for considering participation in the research project.