Teachers College, Columbia University
New York, New York
INFORMED CONSENT
DESCRIPTION OF THE RESEARCH: As a pre-doctoral fellow with the Research Group on Disparities in Health within the Department of Health and Behavior Studies at Teachers College, Columbia University, in New York, New York, I am working with my sponsor (Dr. Barbara Wallace) on this study. You are being asked to complete a survey to help us learn about African American women’s perceptions of sex and power in relationships. This includes providing responses to a series of questions about relationships, sex, and condom use. We will use our findings to improve online sexual health education for women.
RISKS AND BENEFITS: There are no anticipated risks to participants in this study. However, some women might experience some emotional pain, sadness, or stress thinking about the risk or experience of having unprotected sex and related consequences. Although, we would encourage study completion, a participant can discontinue participation in this study at any time. Simply click “end/exit” to exit the study, or delete the whole email or study link entirely. Any participant who becomes upset can pursue help, as follows, as an Internet user: conduct a search via Google.com by entering “free online counseling” (e.g., http://www.myshrink.com/online-crisis-counseling-t.php and access support 24 hours a day/seven days a week from a trained professional volunteer; or, http://www.psychresources.net/ to access online counseling resources; or, http://www.mytherapycouch.com/free_online_therapy/ to receive free online therapy with a qualified professional). Again, we do not think that study participation will trigger so much pain that this is necessary, but we offer these suggestions as a precaution.
PAYMENTS: There are no payments associated with participating in this study. However, a participant has a 3 in 200 chance of winning a $300, $200, or $100 gift certificate to www.Amazon.com. Once 200 women complete the entire survey, a program will automatically send out bar-coded gift certificates to 3 randomly chosen e-mail accounts without in any way linking your identity to the survey results.
DATA STORAGE TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY: Since this is an online survey, actual names, addresses and phone numbers are not needed, and only aggregate (group) data will be utilized. The designers of the website have taken steps to ensure that all data will remain secure, private and confidential.
TIME INVOLVEMENT: The survey should take about 25-40 minutes
HOW WILL RESULTS BE USED: This information will also be used as part of dissertation data for the researchers’ doctorate degree in health education. Findings will be used to improve the www.DIVAhealth.org sexual health education information. The data will be presented at health education meetings, published in journals and used for other educational purposes.
Institutional Review Board Protocol Approval # _12-080___
Thanks for your participation!
Sheba King, MPH, CHES
(Ed.D. Candidate, Teachers College, Columbia University)
sk3100@columbia.edu