Hayley Burns
Honours Student
hayley.burns@vuw.ac.nz
Marc Wilson, PhD
Senior Lecturer
marc.wilson@vuw.ac.nz
What is the purpose of this research?
• This research will allow us to examine the personality traits and psychological characteristics of people who are members of a variety of groups (e.g., churches, sports clubs, etc).
Who is conducting the research?
• I am a fourth year student at Victoria University of Wellington, and Dr. Wilson is supervising this project. The University ethics committee has approved this research.
What is involved if you agree to participate?
• If you agree to participate in the study you will be asked to complete a questionnaire about yourself and membership in the group. Questions relating to personality and behaviour (for example, whether you consider yourself to be extraverted, anxious or calm), thoughts and feelings while involved in the group, as well as dynamics of group memberships (for example, whether the group has guidelines surrounding relationships, or if the group encourages members to get medical assistance) will be posed.
• For some participants, a few questions may be sensitive in nature. http://www.factnet.org/cris_org.htm is an excellent website with helpful resources if you would like support with anything in the survey or otherwise.
• The research is completely anonymous, meaning you will not be identifiable by your answers. Most people complete these questions in around 15-20 minutes.
• During the questionnaire, you are free to withdraw at any point before your data have been collected. Any incomplete surveys will be deleted. Completing the questionnaire indicates that you are happy for us to use your anonymous data with those of other participants for subsequent analysis.
Privacy and Confidentiality
• The information you provide will be coded by number, so you will not be identified in my research project or in any other presentation or publication that may use the data you provide.
• In accordance with the requirements of some scientific journals and organisations, your coded data may be shared with other competent researchers.
• Your coded data may be used in other, related studies.
• A copy of the electronic data will remain in the custody of Dr. Marc Wilson for at least five years after publication in a professional journal or book.
What happens to the information that you provide?
• The data you provide may be used for one or more of the following purposes:
• The overall findings may be submitted for publication in a scientific journal, or presented at scientific conferences.
• The overall findings will form part of an Honours research project that will be submitted for assessment.
