The University of Texas at Austin- Relationships Study

Informed Consent to Participate in Research

You are being asked to participate in a research study. This form provides you with information about the study. The Principal Investigator (the person in charge of this research) or his/her representative is available to further describe this study to you and answer any of your questions. Please read the information below and email any of the Principal Investigators below about anything you don’t understand before deciding whether or not to take part. Your participation is entirely voluntary.

Title of Research Study: Emotion Regulation in Relationships- Standardized Phase I

Principal Investigator(s) (include faculty sponsor), UT affiliation, Telephone Number(s), email:
Christine Chang-Schneider, Graduate Student, chang-schneider@mail.utexas.edu

William B. Swann, Jr., Ph.D., Faculty, swann@mail.utexas.edu

Funding source: UT Psychology

What is the purpose of this study?

To explore how women deal with their emotions with respect to conflictual interaction with their romantic partner. 200 persons will participate.

What will be done if you take part in this research study?

You will also be asked to complete several questionnaires regarding your current relationship and personality. After that, you will receive feedback about your personality and relationships immediately online. This portion of the study should take about ten to fifteen minutes. If your answers from this study fit a set of criteria, you may be contacted via e-mail and asked to participate in the second phase of this study, which would require you to come to the Psychology Department at the UT Austin campus twice: once for a lab session, and then a follow up approximately one week later. In the first session, you would view a short film depicting a conflict between romantic partners while having your heart rate and breathing monitored, and then complete a series of questionnaires. This video may contain strong language. This first lab session would take approximately 1/2 hour. Then you would be asked to return for a second session approximately one week later, during which you would fill out a series of questionnaires about yourself and your relationship. This second session would also take approximately 1/2 hour.

What are the possible discomforts and risks?

Some participants may experiences some discomfort while viewing the movie of the couple in conflict. If counseling support services become necessary during the study because of emotional discomfort that may arise for any reason, there are several online counseling agencies at which you can seek support, such as www.asktheinternettherapist.com and www.helphorizons.com .

There are other remote risks associated with internet technology, electronic cached/stored information, and subject-provided email addresses (e.g. security breach via internet hacker, accidental disclosure of e-mail addresses), however, the principal investigator has taken the necessary precautions to keep these risks at the utmost minimum (e.g. using a password-protected server, limiting access to e-mails only to key personnel in the project and storing them on protected university servers).

If you wish to discuss the information above or any other risks you may experience, you may e-mail the Principal Investigator listed on the front page of this form at chang-schneider@mail.utexas.edu .

What are the possible benefits to you or to others?

You will receive feedback about your personality that you may find interesting, and you may enhance a valuable pool of knowledge by contributing your thoughts and experiences and helping to meet the goals of the research.

If you choose to take part in this study, will it cost you anything?

No.

Will you receive compensation for your participation in this study?

For this initial screening portion of the study, you will receive only feedback about your personality as compensation for your participation. If, however, you are selected to continue onto the next phase of the study, you will be compensated $20 for your participation in the rest of the study.

What if you are injured because of the study?

In the very unlikely case that injuries occur as a result of study activity, no payment can be provided in the event of a medical problem.

If you do not want to take part in this study, what other options are available to you?

Participation in this study is entirely voluntary. You are free to refuse to be in the study, and your refusal will not influence current or future relationships with The University of Texas at Austin.

How can you withdraw from this research study and who should I call if I have questions?

If you wish to stop your participation in this research study for any reason, simply close your browser window to exit the questionnaire and/or contact the principle investigator: Christine Chang-Schneider at chang-schneider@mail.utexas.edu . You should also e-mail the principle investigator for any questions, concerns, or complaints about the research. You are free to withdraw your consent and stop participation in this research study at any time without penalty or loss of benefits for which you may be entitled. Throughout the study, the researchers will notify you of new information that may become available and that might affect your decision to remain in the study.

In addition, if you have questions about your rights as a research participant, or if you have complaints, concerns, or questions about the research, please contact Lisa Leiden, Ph.D., Chair, The University of Texas at Austin Institutional Review Board for the Protection of Human Subjects, (512) 471-8871. You may also contact the Office of Research Compliance and Support at orsc@uts.cc.utexas.edu.

How will your privacy and the confidentiality of your research records be protected?

If in the unlikely event it becomes necessary for the Institutional Review Board to review your research records, then the University of Texas at Austin will protect the confidentiality of those records to the extent permitted by law. Your research records will not be released without your consent unless required by law or a court order. The data resulting from your participation may be made available to other researchers in the future for research purposes not detailed within this consent form. In these cases, the data will contain no identifying information that could associate you with it, or with your participation in any study.

Will the researchers benefit from your participation in this study?

No.

You have been informed about this study’s purpose, procedures, possible benefits and risks, and you may print a copy of this Form if you so desire. You have been given the opportunity to ask questions before you sign, and you have been told that you can ask other questions at any time. You voluntarily agree to participate in this study. By clicking “I wish to participate”, you are not waiving any of your legal rights.

Click "I wish to participate" to electronically sign this form and continue on to the current study.

Click decline if you do not choose to take part in this study.