6th April 2010
Explanatory Statement
Assessment of personality features in the general population.
This information sheet is for you to keep.
My name is Kirby Moerth and I am conducting a research project with Dr Philip Greenway, a senior lecturer in the Department of Education towards a Master of Psychology (Counselling) degree at Monash University. This means that I will be writing a thesis as part of my course.
I am researching aspects of personality, with a focus on how people see themselves and relate with others. I am seeking participation from people over 18 years old from around Australia. This study has been advertised through Google and Facebook advertising services, and you have been directed to this survey after clicking on the advertisement.
You and your responses will remain entirely anonymous throughout the questionnaire, and data will not be collected that could reasonably identify you.
The aim of this study is to assess how certain personality traits relate to people's thoughts, feelings, actions, and relationships. The questionnaire is based on aspects of personality that most people have, to at least some degree. The questions ask you to rate the degree to which you agree or disagree with statements about your personality and your thoughts, feelings and relationships with other people. There are also ten Yes/No questions about things that some people find particularly problematic in their lives.
This type of research is important because it helps us understand the ways in which personality traits work, and the effect that they have upon people's lives. Participation in this study involves completing an online questionnaire. It is expected that this questionnaire will take approximately 20-40 minutes to complete. There are no foreseeable risks involved if you participate in this questionnaire, however some people may experience a mild degree of discomfort when considering some questions.
If you are concerned or distressed about your participation in this study, you may consult the list of mental health support services that I have provided, or links to mental health Tip Sheets, published by the Australian Psychological Society (APS). You may also obtain the name and contact details of psychologists through the APS Find a Psychologist Service.
You may stop or withdraw your participation at any time while completing the questionnaire, and you do not have to answer questions that you are uncomfortable with. However, because all responses are anonymous it is not possible to withdraw your participation after your final responses have been submitted, nor will it be possible for us to provide you with feedback or individual information about your responses.
All information that we obtain is entirely anonymous and confidential. It will only be accessible by the researchers involved, and will be securely stored Monash University for 5 years. A report of the study may be submitted for publication, but individual participants will not be identifiable in such a report. If you would like to be informed of the overall research findings, please contact Kirby Moerth on kmoe2@student.monash.edu.au. The findings will be accessible from November 2011.
If you would like to contact the researchers about any aspect of this study, please contact the Chief Investigator:
If you have a complaint concerning the manner in which this research is being conducted, please contact: Dr. Philip Greenway Senior Lecturer Faculty of Education Monash University, Clayton Telephone: 03 9905 2842 Email: philip.greenway@monash.edu.au
Executive Officer, Human Research Ethics Monash University Human Research Ethics Committee (MUHREC) Building 3e Room 111 Research Office Monash University VIC 3800 Tel: +61 3 9905 2052 Fax: +61 3 9905 3831 Email: muhrec@adm.monash.edu.au
Counselling and Support Services
Lifeline
13 14 11
http://www.lifeline.org.au
Beyond Blue
1300 22 4636
http://www.beyondblue.org.au
Relationships Australia
1300 364 277
http://www.relationships.com.au
Blue Board
http://www.blueboard.anu.edu.au
Sane
1800 187 263
http://www.sane.org/helpline
Mental Health Information Service
1300 794 991
http://www.mentalhealth.asn.au
Tip Sheets
The Australian Psychological Society provides a series of Tip Sheets to help people understand a range of issues. You can access these tip sheets by clicking on the following links: www.psychology.org.au
- Alcohol and Other Drugs
- Managing your anger
- Understanding and managing your anxiety
- Understanding and managing depression
- Understanding and managing eating disorders
- Understanding and managing psychological trauma
- Understanding and managing relationship problems
- Understanding and preventing suicide
The APS also offers a Find a Psychologist Service, if you would like to get in touch with a professional psychologist: http://www.psychology.org.au/FindaPsychologist/Default.aspx
Thank you.
Kirby Moerth