SUBJECT INFORMATION AND INFORMED CONSENT

 

 

Study Title:  Imagined Interactions in Continuing Bonds

 

Investigator(s): 

Kendyl Barney, Department of Communication Studies, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, kendyl.barney@umontana.edu

 

Purpose:

This project will look at relationships between survivors and their loved ones who have died. The results of this work contribute to academic conversations regarding the communication of grief after death-related loss. You must be 18 or older to participate in this study.

 

Procedures:

If you agree to take part in this study, you will be asked to complete a short questionnaire (this should take no longer than 10 minutes). One week later, you will be contacted by e-mail to participate in a second questionnaire. You may or may not be asked to write a letter to your deceased loved one. If so, it is your choice how much time you spend on the letter.

 

Payment for Participation:         

You will not receive pay for participating in this study.

 

Risks/Discomforts:

The questions in this study will ask you to think about your experience(s) grieving the loss of a loved one. Emotions and thoughts surrounding grief may transpire during/after participation. It is the goal of the researcher to minimize discomforts and provide helpful resources if necessary. At the end of the study, you will be linked to grief support resources.

 

Benefits:

Having the opportunity to talk about grief can provide valuable insight for some participants. Letter writing can be a helpful practice when experiencing grief. Otherwise, there is no promise that you will receive any benefit from taking part in this study. However, your participation in this study may help influence deeper academic understandings of grief communication and experiences of bereavement.

 

Confidentiality:

Your confidentiality will be protected. The researcher will have your e-mail address, but following completion of the study, the researcher will stop all contact with you and delete any documentation of your e-mail address. Letters will not be read until all e-mails are deleted. All names will be removed from the letters. The data collected will not contain any identifying information.

 

Only the researcher will have access to questionnaires and letters. Your identity will be kept private. If the results of this study are written in an academic journal or presented at an academic conference, your name will not be used.

 

Voluntary Participation/Withdrawal:

Your decision to take part in this research study is entirely voluntary. You may refuse to take part in or stop the study at any time without penalty. If you begin to experience significant distress at any point during the study, please stop and proceed to the last page where resources are provided.

 

Questions:

If you have any questions about the research, please contact Kendyl Barney at kendyl.barney@umontana.edu.  If you have any questions regarding your rights as a research subject, you may contact the University of Montana Institutional Review Board (IRB) at (406) 243-6672.

 

Do you consent to take part in this research study?