Researchers:  Dr. Jennifer Scheid (jscheid@daemen.edu), Dr. Shannon Lupien (slupien@daemen.edu), and Dr. Ariana Young (ayoung@callutheran.edu)

You are invited to participate in a research study. The purpose of this form is to give you information you will need to help you decide whether or not you would like to participate. Please read the form carefully. You may contact any of the researchers to ask questions about the purpose of the research, what you will be asked to do, any possible risks and benefits, your rights if you were to participate, and anything else about the research or this form before deciding whether or not to participate.

Purpose of the Research Project: The current study aims to explore how the type of exercise one participates in and individual factors like stress and one’s preferences for being around others, influences important fitness outcomes.
 
Description of the Research Project and Procedures: If you agree to participate you will be asked to complete a number of questionnaires. These questionnaires will first ask about the type of exercise you normally do each week and your fitness goals. Next some questions will ask about your preference for being around others (e.g., I feel very connected to others when in a large group activity I like, like going to a concert, church, or convention). You will also be asked questions related to your stress (e.g., In the last month, how often have you felt difficulties were piling up so high that you could not overcome them?) and your ability to overcome challenges (e.g., Setbacks do not discourage me). Additionally, if you participate in group fitness, you will be asked a number of questions related to how you interact with your favorite group fitness instructor (e.g., When I interact with my favorite instructor, I feel included). Lastly, you will be given the opportunity to provide your email in order to be entered in a drawing to win one of five gift cards.
 
Risks and Costs:
The researchers do not anticipate any risks beyond what could occur in daily life. The survey data cannot be directly linked to participants’ identities, and the potentially identifying email addresses will be collected separately and shuffled before survey data is accessed so they cannot be used to indirectly link participant responses to their identities.
 
Benefits: Participants will not directly benefit from taking part in this study.

Time Commitment and Compensation:
Participation in this study is expected to take approximately 30 minutes. After reviewing the survey materials, participants will have the opportunity to enter their email address to be entered in a drawing for a chance to win one of five $100 Amazon gift cards (approximately 1/100 chance of winning). Winners will be notified, and gift cards emailed at the completion of the study, no later than December 2023.

Confidentiality and Anonymity:
Data will be collected anonymously, and all data collected from participants will be kept confidential. Only the researchers mentioned above will have access to participant responses. Participants’ names will not be connected to any responses provided, and responses cannot be directly identified. Furthermore, if the results of this study are published in the future, they will be published in group form and not in a way that would reveal any individual responses.

Voluntary Participation:
Taking part in this research study is voluntary. If you choose to take part, you have the right to stop at any time or skip any questions that you may wish. If you wish to discontinue your participation you will still be compensated for your time with an entry for the gift cards if you choose to enter your email at the end of the survey. If you would not like to participate at this time, simply exit this site.

Contact Information for Questions or Concerns:
You have the right to ask any questions you may have about this research. If you have questions or concerns, contact Dr. Jennifer Scheid at jscheid@daemen.edu, (716) 839-7656, Dr. Shannon Lupien at slupien@daemen.edu (716) 566-7854 or Dr. Ariana Young at ayoung@callutheran.edu, (805) 493-3267. If you would like to report a complaint or have questions regarding your rights as a human subject, you may contact the Daemen University Institutional Review Board – Human Subjects Research Chair at irb@daemen.edu, (716) 839-8508. 

Consent:
Please review all the information on this form before deciding whether or not you would like to participate. 
If you wish to participate, please click the “I agree” button below, which will take you to the study materials. By clicking the “I agree” button you are attesting that you have read the above information, that you understand the tasks and risks associated with the study, and that you agree to participate in the study. By clicking the “I agree” button below, you are attesting that you understand that your participation is entirely voluntary and that you can choose to discontinue your participation at any time. By clicking the “I agree” button below, you are attesting that you are at least 18 years of age.

*I confirm that I have read the information in this informed consent document. (If I do not wish to participate at this time, I may exit this site).

Please indicate if you agree to participate in this study by checking the box below:(Required.)

I agree to participate in this study. I was informed that participation in this study is voluntary.

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