Actions & Reactions in Romantic Relationships - CO

University of Southern California

Annenberg School for Communication

INFORMATION SHEET FOR NON-MEDICAL RESEARCH

The Selection and Usage of Reactive Relationship Maintenance Strategies as Mediators of the Effect of Attachment Systems' Internal Working Models upon the Outcomes of Romantic Relationships.

You are asked to participate in a research study conducted by Lynn Carol Miller, PhD and Erica Watson-Currie MA, from the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Southern California. The results of this study will be analyzed as part of Erica Watson-Curries doctoral dissertation. You were selected as a possible participant in this study because you either attend the University of Southern California or were nominated for participation by a student at the University of Southern California, or received nomination via member of a graduate student listserv. No more than 1000 subjects will be permitted to participate, however the anticipated number is between 150 and 200 participants. Your participation is voluntary.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

We are asking you to take part in a research study because we are trying to learn more about the ways that people feel about their romantic partners; how they maintain their romantic relationships; and the ways they react to conflicts within those relationships.

Completion and return of the questionnaire or response to the interview questions will constitute consent to participate in this research project.

PROCEDURES

You will be asked to complete an online survey questionnaire which will last approximately 30 to 45 minutes. The questions will address topics such as: your feelings about your romantic partner; the ways you respond to conflict within this relationship; and the ways and reasons you have for communicating with others in general. You will not be photographed or videotaped by the researchers at any time during your participation in this survey.

POTENTIAL RISKS AND DISCOMFORTS

Although every precaution has been taken to protect participants from any potentially foreseen risk or discomfort, it is always possible that some minimal level of discomfort or inconvenience could be experienced by participants in any activity. Some of the most common of these would include: potentially taking time away from other activities, physical and/or mental fatigue, emotional distress due to the exploration of previously unexamined relationship issues.

POTENTIAL BENEFITS TO SUBJECTS AND/OR TO SOCIETY

You will not directly benefit from participating in this research study.
To Participant: 1.) Materials and online format should prove interesting to most participants; 2.) Participation in a research project can provide deeper understanding of the process of research, and lead to better ability to assess reports of other studies encountered in classroom setting or via the media; 3.) Summary of studys results will be e-mailed to any participants upon request: To request your copy, e-mail co-principal researcher at [email protected].

To Society: 1.) More complete understanding of the mechanisms underlying the processes by which Internal Working Models underlying Attachment Styles shape perceptions and/or behaviors, leading to different relationship outcomes. 2.) This study will extend the research literature in both Attachment and Relationship Maintenance.

PAYMENT/COMPENSATION FOR PARTICIPATION

Available funds are insufficient to pay each participant for his/her participation. Therefore, the $250 allotted to this project has been used to purchase Amazon.com gift certificates (one in the amount of $100, and three in the amount of $50) to be used as prizes for a few lucky entrants. In accordance with California state law, the USC Office of Compliance, and the University Park Institutional Review Boards guidelines: 1.) no purchase is necessary, or possible in this case; 2.) declining to participate in the study will not preclude individuals from participating in the raffle; 3.) any individuals not invited to participate in the research who ask to be included in the raffle will be included (although this scenario is perceived to be unlikely); 4.) the prize money for this raffle is in an amount intended to be sufficiently motivational without being construed as coercive to any potential participants.

CONFIDENTIALITY

Any information that is obtained in connection with this study and that can be identified with you will remain confidential and will be disclosed only with your permission or as required by law.

As you will not be asked for your name at any time during this study, and any e-mail address you choose to provide either for survey entry or to request summary of group results and research findings at conclusion of project will not be connected to your answers, it is extremely unlikely that any potentially confidential information could be disclosed. Data set will be erased from online survey company at completion of data collection. Data set for assessment and write-up purposes will be stored on personal computer in co-principal investigators home and a back-up copy on CD-ROM. Personal information (e-mail addresses) will be stored in separate file and discarded after prize money has been awarded. Only the prize winners will be recontacted to verify that e-mail address is still valid at that time. Amazon.com can send gift certificates with e-mail addresses alone, so your name will never be asked for nor associated with any answers you provide.

Data set will be deleted off personal computer after final acceptance of dissertation and any resulting academic publications.

Data set will be saved on CD-ROM for comparisons with findings in future studies and/or for use by other interested researchers upon request.

When the results of the research are published or discussed in conferences, no information will be included that would reveal your identity.

PARTICIPATION AND WITHDRAWAL

You can choose whether to be in this study or not. If you volunteer to be in this study, you may withdraw at any time without consequences of any kind. You may also refuse to answer any questions you dont want to answer and still remain in the study. The investigator may withdraw you from this research if circumstances arise which warrant doing so.

IDENTIFICATION OF INVESTIGATORS
If you have any questions or concerns about the research, please feel free to contact Erica Watson-Currie ([email protected]) or by phone at 818-321-3861 or via mail c/o Annenberg School for Communication, 3502 Watt Way, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0281.

If you have any questions or concerns about the research, please feel free to contact Erica Watson-Currie ([email protected]) or by phone at 818-321-3861 or via mail c/o Annenberg School for Communication, 3502 Watt Way, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0281.

RIGHTS OF RESEARCH SUBJECTS

You may withdraw your consent at any time and discontinue participation without penalty. You are not waiving any legal claims, rights or remedies because of your participation in this research study. If you have questions regarding your rights as a research subject, contact the University Park IRB, Office of the Vice Provost for Research, Grace Ford Salvatori Building, Room 226, Los Angeles, CA 90089-1695, (213) 821-5272 or [email protected].

1. Be informed of the nature and purpose of the study.
2. Be given an explanation of the procedures to be followed in the study.
3. Be given a description of any attendant discomforts and risks reasonably to be expected from your/your childs participation in the study.
4. Be given an explanation of any benefits reasonably to be expected from your/your childs participation in the study.
5. Be given a disclosure of any appropriate alternatives that might be advantageous to you/your child, and their relative risks and benefits.

6. Be informed of avenues of resources, if any, available to you/your child after the study procedure if complications should arise.
7. Be given an opportunity to ask any questions concerning the study or the procedures involved.
8. Be instructed that consent to participate in the study may be withdrawn at any time, and that you/your child may discontinue participation in the study without prejudice.
9. Be given a copy of this form and the signed and dated written study consent form.
10. Be given the opportunity to decide to consent or not to consent to participate in the study without the intervention of any element of force, fraud, deceit, duress, coercion, or undue influence on your decision.

Actions & Reactions in Romantic Relationships

This research is interested in the various types of relationships you have formed with other people in your day-to-day life, the ways that you maintain those relationships, and react to conflicts within them. Before asking questions about these relationships, wed like to learn a little bit more about you. Please answer each of the following questions honestly and to the best of your ability. There are no right or wrong answers. We are just interested in learning a little bit about how you think and feel while communicating with others in general, and how you view the world.

Instructions: Here are several reasons people give for why they talk to other people. For each statement, please indicate to what degree it expresses your own reasons for talking to others.

Instructions: Here are several reasons people give for why they talk to other people. For each statement, please indicate to what degree it expresses your own reasons for talking to others.

Because it makes me feel less tense. (This reason is __________ like your own reason.)

To thank them. (This reason is __________ like your own reason.)

Please contact [email protected] or click here if you have any questions regarding this survey.