Consent Form

Researcher:
Alexandra Zidenberg, PhD
Assistant Professor
Department of Military Psychology and Leadership
Royal Military College of Canada
Email: alexandra.zidenberg@rmc-cmr.ca
Phone: 613.541.6000 ext. 6017

This research project was created in co-operation with Zooville.org and in partnership with a research advisory committee composed of members of the zoophile community. The advisory committee consisted of:
  • ZTHorse
  • SigmaZeta
  • AquaZeta
  • FloofyNewfie

Examining the Mental Health, Social Supports, and Attitudes of Zoophiles: You are invited to participate in a research study entitled “Examining the Mental Health, Social Supports, and Attitudes of Zoophiles.” This study has been approved by the Royal Military College (RMC) Behavioural Research Ethics Board on March 13, 2024. Please read this form carefully and feel free to contact the researcher above if you have any questions prior to, during, or after completing the study. This project has been approved on ethical grounds by the RMC Research Ethics Board. Any questions regarding your rights as a participant may be addressed to the committee through the Research Ethics Office at reb-cer@rmc-cmr.ca.

Purpose and Procedure: The purpose of this study is to learn more about the experiences and attitudes of people who are attracted to animals. To participate, you must be a minimum of 18 years of age, you must identify as someone who is attracted to animals, and you must read and write English well enough to participate. If you decide to take part, you will be asked questions about your attitudes, experiences, and some (non-identifiable) demographic information. The entire study will take approximately 40 to 60 minutes.

Potential Benefits: While there will be no direct benefit to you as a participant, you will have the opportunity to better understand the research process and to contribute knowledge about the attitudes and experiences of individuals who are attracted to animals. Having a better understanding of these individuals could lead to more tailored training for professionals, more confidence and competence in dealing with zoophilic individuals, and an increased level of patient care in the future.

Potential Risks: During participation in this study, there is the potential to experience some discomfort due to the sensitive nature of the questions. Some items may be shocking, difficult to answer, and uncomfortable to rate; however, they are unlikely to cause significant psychological or emotional discomfort. In the debriefing form, you will be given the contact information of the researchers and mental health services. You will also be given information specific to support for sexual attractions. Please remember that you have the right to skip any questions you wish or to discontinue your participation at any time without penalty. If you wish, you may contact the research team at the contact information above to discuss the study. If you require further support, please consider contacting service your local crisis intervention service. International Resources can be accessed here: https://findahelpline.com/

Storage of Data: The research data will be encrypted and stored on the secure servers of SurveyMonkey, whose premises have 24/7 security. Once data collection is complete, data will be deleted from SurveyMonkey and stored on password protected computers accessible to only the above researcher. No identifying information, such as your name or IP address, will appear in the database. All the data will be aggregated to further protect the confidentiality of your responses. Anonymous data will be held by the researcher will be stored indefinitely.
Anonymity and Confidentiality: Your participation is anonymous and confidential. While the data from this research project may be published and presented at conferences, it will be reported in aggregate form. Aggregated / grouped data may be shared with other researchers as required by the ethics and publication guidelines of psychology. If this is the case, none of your identifying information will be included. This ensures that the identification of individuals will not be possible. Your anonymous data may be reanalysed in future research projects. If that is the case, all the current privacy protections will apply to that reuse, and you will not be identifiable. To ensure the anonymity of your responses, please do not include any identifying information in your responses, such as your name or email in the questionnaire fields. Because the survey host’s (SurveyMonkey) data is stored on secure servers in a building with 24/7 security in Canada, it cannot be extracted under legislation such as the Patriot Act in the United States, which requires research data to be turned over to the government.

Right to Withdraw: Your participation in this study is voluntary and you are not required to answer any questions that you are uncomfortable with. If you do not wish to continue with the study, you are free to stop answering at any time, for any reason, without penalty. Once the survey has been completed, responses will no longer be able to be withdrawn due to the anonymous nature of the study.

Questions: If any questions or concerns arise prior to, during, or after completing the study, feel free to express these by contacting the research team at the contact information above. Further, if you have any questions about your rights as a research participant, please contact the Royal Military College Research Ethics Board at reb-cer@rmc-cmr.ca.

Follow-Up or Debriefing: After completion or withdrawal from the survey, you will be directed to a debriefing form providing more information on the study’s background and purpose. A summary of the results will be provided for Zooville. If you wish to receive a copy of the summary of the research results, please submit your request to the research team at the contact information above.

Consent to Participate: By completing and submitting the questionnaire, YOUR FREE AND INFORMED CONSENT IS IMPLIED and indicates that you understand the above conditions of participation in this study. This will constitute permission for the researcher to use the data gathered in the manner described above. If you would like a copy of the consent form, please print a copy for your records before proceeding to the questionnaire. You may also contact the researchers for a copy of the consent form.

Question Title

* 1. Do you consent to participate in this study?

 
 12% of survey complete.

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