Participant Information Sheet V1.0 7/10/2024

Social Networks and Social Support

Welcome to our study!

We would like to invite you to take part in this research project designed by the School of Psychology, Queen’s University Belfast, on behalf of a PhD project. Before you decide whether you want to take part, it is important for you to understand why the research is being done and what your participation will involve. Please take the time to read the following information carefully and discuss it with others if you wish. Thank you for reading this.

What is the purpose of the study?

The aim of this study is to investigate social networks and social support for different groups of people. As researchers, we are interested in how aspects of people's social lives (such as social networks and support) may be linked to individuals' life choices. Such choices include people´s living arrangements, whether they are with a romantic partner or not or whether or not to have children. In this study, we want to find out how an individual's life choices may relate to their social lives with friends, family and other people.

Why have I been chosen?

You and other similar potential participants have been invited to participate in this study because you are aged 18 years old, or over which is the only requirement for this present study. If you do not fit into these criteria, please exit the study.

Do I have to take part?

No. Participation is voluntary, and you do not have to take part. While filling out the survey, you can withdraw anytime by just closing your browser. However, once you have completed and submitted the survey, you will not be able to withdraw from the study anymore as the information will be completely anonymised.

What will happen to me if I take part?

If you decide to take part, you will be asked to sign a consent form to confirm your agreement to participate and complete a survey including demographic information and several questionnaires. Following the survey, you will be provided with written important information regarding the study (debriefing). This study should last approximately 15-20 minutes.

What are the possible risks or disadvantages of taking part?

We do not anticipate any risk, but some of the questions may feel direct and ask you about your parenting status which may cause temporary emotional distress. To combat this potential issue, we have included a ‘prefer not to say’ option in questions not deemed as essential. Remember that you can withdraw from the survey until you have submitted the survey.

What are the possible benefits of taking part?

There is no intended direct positive effect of participating in this study. We hope that you find participation interesting though and have done our best to make the survey enjoyable. You will contribute towards furthering our knowledge about parenting decisions and social networks, helping us to add to existing literature.

What if something goes wrong?

If you have any concerns about any aspects of the study, you can contact the Chief Investigator (i.latu@qub.ac.uk). Should you remain unhappy and wish to make a formal complaint, you can contact the Research Governance Team at Queen’s University Belfast (Telephone: 028 9097 2529; Email: researchgovernance@qub.ac.uk).

Will my taking part in this study be kept confidential?

We are responsible for making sure your participation is kept confidential and any data is kept securely in accordance with data protection guidelines and used only in the way described in this information sheet. Your responses throughout the survey cannot be traced back to you as we will not request personal information (e.g., name, signature, address), therefore your identity will be kept anonymous. All the information provided will be confidential throughout the study. It will not be possible for you to be identified in any published reporting of the data. Note that, for the purposes of open and transparent science, the fully anonymised data may be shared with other researchers and through a publicly accessible online data repository (e.g., the Open Science Framework; OSF).

What will happen to the results of the research?

We will use the results to produce a final report summarising the main findings. The final report for this study will be submitted to Queen’s University Belfast as part of a PhD thesis, and may be used at conferences, and potential publication in peer-review journals. For the purposes of open and transparent science, the fully anonymised data may be shared with other researchers and through a publicly accessible online data repository (e.g., the Open Science Framework; OSF).

Who is organising and funding the research?

This research is part of a PhD thesis at Queen’s University Belfast (School of Psychology) and is funded by a postgraduate studentship from the Department for the Economy (DfE).

Who has reviewed the study?

This study has been reviewed by the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Ethics Committee.

Contact for Further Information

If you have any questions or require more information about this study, please contact the research team using the following contact details:

Olivia Crawford (PhD researcher) – ocrawford02@qub.ac.uk
Professor Ioana Latu (Principal Investigator, Supervisor) – i.latu@qub.ac.uk
Dr Phoebe E. McKenna-Plumley (QUB co-investigator) - p.mckenna@qub.ac.uk
Dr Tanja M. Gerlach (Non-QUB co-investigator) - tanja.gerlach@lifbi.de

This research will be conducted in compliance with data protection legislation. For more information about how we look after your information, how to access your rights and who to contact if you have any queries or concerns about data protection please visit the Queen’s University Belfast website - www.qub.ac.uk/privacynotice/Research/ListofResearchPrivacyNotices/PrivacyNoticeforResearchParticipants

Thank you for your interest in this study and for taking the time to read through this information sheet.