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T0 Dynamics of Sex in Romantic Relationships Study

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Dynamics of Sex in Relationships Study

Principal Investigator:
 Ronald D. Rogge, PhD
Research Coordinator: Amanda M. Shaw, M.A.

 

This consent form describes a research study, what you may expect if you decide to take part and important information to help you make your decision.  Please read this form carefully.

 

If you are …   1) Currently in a romantic relationship

                        2) Currently physically intimate with your partner

                        3) At least 18 years old

… then I would like to invite you to participate in an online survey.

 

STUDY PURPOSE - This page describes a research study that Dr. Ronald D. Rogge, principal investigator from Department of Clinical and Social Psychology at the University of Rochester, is conducting in order to learn more about the various meanings that sex can take on in romantic relationships and how those meanings of sex influence relationship dynamics across time.

 

STUDY PROCEDURE – The study involves an online survey that will take approximately 25-30 minutes.  The survey contains some personal questions about you, your relationship, and intimate behaviors. We would like you to complete the whole survey, but you may skip any questions that you don't feel comfortable answering. Approximately 1 and 2 years after you complete the initial survey, we will e-mail you links to short (12-16 min) follow-up surveys.  We will also e-mail you links to extremely short (5-7 min) monthly follow-up surveys in between those yearly follow-ups. The materials and procedures involved in this study have been evaluated and approved by the University of Rochester Research Subjects Review Board.

 

INDIVIDUAL FEEDBACK - At the end of the initial survey, you will be offered a chance to view some of your own results in comparison to the rest of the sample. You will be given feedback on 11 different dimensions of relationship and sexual functioning.   Please note, this individual feedback is provided for your use only.   The investigators will not have access to the individual feedback given and will only analyze the data at an aggregate level. 

 

NUMBER OF SUBJECTS: We expect that 5000 subjects will participate in the study. 

 

RISKS - If you agree to participate, you may feel uncomfortable or stressed answering some questions, you are free to decline to answer any question or stop participation at anytime.  Communicating via e-mail with the study team while participating in this study presents additional risks related to privacy and confidentiality. E-mail can be circulated, forwarded, intercepted, altered, stored electronically and on paper, and broadcast to unintended recipients.  They may also introduce viruses into computer systems.  The study team cannot guarantee but will use reasonable means to maintain security and confidentiality of e-mail information sent and received.

 

BENEFITS - There are no direct benefits to you for participating in this study. However, some couples tend to find that taking time out to answer questions about their relationships can heighten their awareness of themselves and their relationships.

 

 INCENTIVES –At the end of the initial survey you will be given individual feedback on your relationship and your sex life, comparing your responses to thousands of other people who have completed these measures. Students from the Psychology Department of the University of Rochester will receive 0.5 units of extra credit in exchange for completing the initial survey. Participants completing the initial survey as part of a Mechanical Turk HIT will receive a small (20-50 cent) monetary incentive via the Mechanical Turk interface, no direct payments will be sent from the University of Rochester researcher.  Individuals will also be given entries into a drawing for an Ipad (or cash equivalent) for each follow-up survey completed.

 

CONFIDENTIALITY – The University of Rochester makes every effort to keep the information collected from you private.  In order to do so, your data will not be shared with third parties and only investigators on the study will have access to that data. Although the data from known romantic partners participating in the survey will be linked via a couple ID number in our final data set, none of your responses would ever be shared with your partner or vice versa.  The responses of all participants will be stored numerically and only the investigators on the study will have access to that data. Sometimes, however, researchers need to share information that may identify you with people that work for the University, regulators or the study sponsor.  If this does happen we will take precautions to protect the information you have provided.  Results of the research may be presented at meetings or in publications, but your name will not be used. 

 

CONTACT PERSONS: For more information concerning this research or if you feel that your participation has resulted in any emotional or physical discomfort please contact: Ronald D. Rogge , University of Rochester, Department of Clinical and Social Psychology, RC Box 270266 or rogge@psych.rochester.edu , (585)-273-3720

 

Please contact the University of Rochester Research Subjects Review Board at 265 Crittenden Blvd., CU 420315, Rochester, NY 14642, Telephone (585) 276-0005 or (877) 449-4441 for the following reasons:

  • You wish to talk to someone other than the research staff about your rights as a research subject
  • To voice concerns about the research
  • To provide input concerning the research process
  • In the event the study staff could not be reached

 

VOLUNTARY PARTICIPATION - Taking part in this study is voluntary. You are free not to take part or to withdraw at any time, for whatever reason.  No matter what decision you make, there will be no penalty or loss of benefit to which you are entitled. In the event that you do withdraw from this study, the information you have already provided will be kept in a confidential manner.

 
After reading the information in this consent form you should understand:

  • Why this study is being done
  • What will happen during the study
  • Any possible risks and benefits to you
  • Other options you may have instead of being in the study
  • How your personal information will be protected
  • What to do if you have problems or questions about this study.

 

If you are interested in participating in the survey, please proceed.  Thank you for your time.

 

Sincerely,

Ronald D. Rogge, Ph.D.  

Amanda M. Shaw, M.A.               

Do you agree to these terms of participation? (continuing on in the survey implies that you agree with these terms)