Research Subject Information and Consent Form
Title of Study: Monogamy in the New Millennium
Study Investigators: Katherine Frank and John DeLamater
INVITATION/SUMMARY
You are invited to participate in a confidential research study about people’s attitudes about sexual exclusivity in marriage. You have been invited because you are currently married and are living in one of the communities we have selected to study. Your participation is completely voluntary.
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE STUDY?
The purpose of this study is to gain a better understanding of how couples make decisions about how to limit their social and sexual activity throughout their marriages. Because of this, we are interested in having both members of a couple complete the survey.
WHAT WILL MY PARTICIPATION INVOLVE?
You will fill out a survey with 58 primary questions, several of which have subsections. Completion will take 25-45 minutes depending on the speed of your internet connection. Most of the questions focus on the meanings of commitment, love, sex, and intimacy. At the end of the survey, you will have the opportunity to volunteer to be interviewed for more detailed information.
WILL MY CONFIDENTIALITY BE PROTECTED?
Your responses will not be shared with your spouse or anyone else. If you complete the survey online, your answers will be immediately entered into the database. Any contact information that you have provided the researchers will be destroyed once the survey portion of the study is completed, unless you would like to be contacted for an interview. If you indicate a desire to be contacted for an interview, your contact information will only be saved as long as necessary to schedule and complete an interview and will be stored separately from your survey data.
ARE THERE ANY RISKS?
There are minimal risks associated with this study. You will not be asked for identifying information on the survey and the confidential numeric code on the survey will only be used to make sure that we have a complete survey from both spouses.
Some people feel uncomfortable answering questions about sexual behavior and attitudes. You may refuse to answer individual questions if you so desire.
ARE THERE ANY BENEFITS?
No direct benefit is guaranteed to you from participating in this study. However, your
participation in this research may benefit other people in the future by helping us learn more
about how couples understand monogamy and commitment. Some people appreciate the opportunity to
reflect upon their behaviors and you might find the process to be enjoyable.
WILL I BE PAID FOR PARTICIPATING IN THE STUDY?
You will not be paid for participating in this study.
IF I DECIDE TO START THE SURVEY, CAN I CHANGE MY MIND?
Your participation is entirely voluntary. If you are completing this survey online and decide not to continue, you can simply close the window and terminate the process.
If you decide not to continue, you can also contact the researchers so that they can delete any information you have already entered.
WHAT IF I HAVE QUESTIONS?
If you have questions about this research, please contact Dr. Katherine Frank at 608-262-1930 or Dr. John DeLamater at 608-262-4357. If you have any questions about your rights as a research subject, contact the Social and Behavioral Science IRB at 608-263-2320.
Authorization to participate in the research study:
I have read the information in this consent form and have reviewed any questions. I voluntarily agree to participate in this study.
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