Alcohol Consumption and Memory for Criminal Events

Informed Consent for Part 1 Alcohol Consumption and Memory Recall Study
Department of Psychology, Western Illinois University

The study in which you have been asked to participate is being conducted by a psychology student as part of a research project. You must be at least 21 years of age to participate in this study. The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of alcohol on memory for criminal behavior and your opinions of past interactions with law enforcement.

Tasks:
The first part of this study will be completed online. In the online portion you will be asked to provide some basic demographic information including some items related to your mental and physical health, and respond to items related to your perceptions of witness cooperation. After completing the first part, you will receive 1 PURE credit and may be selected to participate in the second part of the study, which is worth 1 credit per ½ hour of participation. You can earn up to 4 credits in the second half of the study and up to 5 credits total for participating in the two parts. In the second half of the study you will be asked to consume an alcoholic beverage, watch a video depicting a crime, and respond to questions about the crime you viewed.

Potential Risks and Benefits:
By participating in the online portion of this study you are providing us with accurate personal information. As researchers we take all precautions to protect the information provided by taking steps to secure your privacy and confidentiality to ensure that you are at no greater risk of harm by participating in this study than risk posed by your normal daily activities (e.g., sending e-mails and/or texts). In fact, we provide a more secure environment for your privacy than most online social networks (e.g., Facebook) and e-mail / text exchanges. Should you participate in the second half of the study precautions are in place (e.g., safe rides home) to lower the risks related to alcohol consumption. Please keep in mind that you can choose to withdraw from the study at any point without fear of penalty. By participating you may earn up to 5 credits toward your PURE credit requirement if you are participating in a General Education course or extra credit in your upper division psychology course. In addition, you will learn about the effects of alcohol on memory and information related to a witness experience.

Contact Information:
If you have any questions regarding your participation or this study, you can contact the researcher Breanne Helmers at [email protected] or the faculty sponsor Dr. Kimberley McClure at [email protected]. If you have questions about your rights as a research participant, please contact the Western Illinois University Institutional Review Board (IRB) at (309) 298-1191, or [email protected]. You may print a copy of this information for your records.

What is your SONA ID number.

I consent to participation in this study.

Yes