LGBTQ+ Women's Gender Style Survey
Letter of Information and Consent Form
Principal Investigator: Dr. Rhea Ashley Hoskin, Ph.D
Postdoctoral Researcher, Queen's University
Kingston, ON, Canada
LGBTQstyle@gmail.com
Co-Investigator: Dr. Karen Blair, Ph.D
Assistant Professor, St. Francis Xavier University
Antigonish, NS, Canada
LGBTQstyle@gmail.com
Co-Investigator: Audrey Gunn
Undergraduate Student, St. Francis Xavier University
Antigonish, NS, Canada
LGBTQstyle@gmail.com
Introduction
You are invited to participate in a research study on how sexual minority women express their gender style. This study is being conducted by Dr. Rhea Ashley Hoskin, a postdoctoral researcher at Queen’s University (LGBTQstyle@gmail.com).
Purpose of the study
The purpose of this study is to explore the gender style of sexual minority women. Individuals aged 18 and older who have access to the Internet and a computer, who identify as sexual minority women (e.g., gay, lesbian, bisexual, pansexual, queer, asexual, etc.), and who can read and write in English are invited to participate in this study. Individuals with vision-related disabilities may not be able to participate. All relationship types, sexualities, and experiences are welcomed. This study is inclusive of all women who identify as a sexual minority.
Study procedures
Your participation in this study involves the completion of an online survey hosted on a secure website and server. First, you will be asked for your sociodemographic information. Then, you will watch a 10-minute video explaining key concepts and the diagram. After watching the video, you will then be asked to describe your current and desired gender style using a gender diagram. After the diagram, you will be asked to describe and explain your selection. The survey will also ask you a series of questions regarding your experience as a sexual minority woman. Participation in this study is estimated to take 20 minutes. You may withdraw from the study at any time by simply closing your browser. As the survey is anonymous, you will not be able to withdraw your data.
Compensation
To thank you for your time and effort, after completion of the study. You will be given the choice to enter a raffle for a $50.00 Amazon Gift Certificate. The participant who wins will be notified via the contact information they provided upon entering the raffle, and the Amazon gift certificate will be sent to the email address provided. The information provided for the raffle will be kept separate from any survey responses provided.
Advantages of participating in this study
You will receive no direct benefits for participating in this study.
Benefits to Science
The information gathered in the study will potentially help to increase knowledge of sexual minority women and the multitude of ways that they express their gender through style.
Disadvantages and risks of the study
This study is expected to impose no known risk to participants. Your answers will be completely anonymous. No personal identifying information will be attached to your survey responses and your participation will be confidential.
Confidential nature of this study
Your involvement as a part of this study is anonymous and all responses and data obtained from the survey will not be linked to any personal identifying information. Your data will only be identified by a participant number and no personally identifying information will be saved. All data will be stored in a password-protected, encrypted file on a secure computer and only research personnel will have access to the data. At the completion of the study, your contact information will be purged. At no time will your name be connected to the data you provide, as you will be identified to the researchers by email address only. If the email address you provide for the prize contains your name, there is potential for identification. However, your email address will not be linked to your data. The data obtained from this study will be kept indefinitely for future use in related studies. We do plan to publish the results of this research, but all findings will be reported as averages across many participants. No subject identifying information will be published.
There are some reasons why people other than the researchers may need to see the information you provided as part of the study. This includes organizations responsible for making sure the research is done safely and properly. For example, the Queen’s University General Research Ethics Board (GREB) may access your data for quality assurance purposes. The investigators will take all reasonable measures to protect the confidentiality of your records.
Discontinuation of this study
Participation is voluntary and you can decline to participate in the research or any aspect of the research at any time without penalty. You may choose to discontinue your participation at any point without penalty by closing the browser. Note, only participants who provide an email address at the end of the survey will be entered into the prize draw.
CONTACT
If you have any questions concerning your participation or about the research being done, please contact Rhea Ashley Hoskin, Ph.D., Queen’s University, Department of Gender Studies & Psychology, 62 Arch Street, Kingston, Ontario K7L 3N6, Phone: (902) 867-5956; E-mail: LGBTQstyle@gmail.com
If you have any ethics concerns please contact the General Research Ethics Board (GREB) at 1-844-535-2988 (Toll-free in North America) or chair.GREB@queensu.ca. Call 1-613-5332988 if outside North America. Please note that GREB communicates in English only.
CONSENT
By clicking on the "I agree and wish to participate in the study" button you are agreeing to participate in this study. Research participation is voluntary and even by consenting now you may reconsider your involvement at any time and decline to continue participating. You may print this form for your records. Please ensure that all questions and concerns regarding this research as well as what you are being asked to do have been addressed and completely understood. You can contact a member of the research team at any time or if you have a question after participation has been completed.
You have not waived any legal rights by consenting to participate in this study.