Consent Form

Please read the following consent agreement.

I agree to participate in the research study entitled "Affective Responses to Self Assessment Manikins by People of Different Ethnicities" that is being conducted by Dr. Alan E. Stewart (Department of Counseling & Human Development at the University of Georgia, phone: 706.542.1812). I understand that my participation is entirely voluntary and I need to be 18 Years and Older to be eligible for participation in this study. I understand that I can refuse to participate or withdraw my consent at any time without penalty or loss of benefit to which I am otherwise entitled. I understand the following points:

1. PURPOSE: In this project we plan to study how people from different ages, genders and cultures respond and perceive the Self Assessment Manikins (SAM). SAMs are pictorial scales that have been extensively used in emotion and attention research to measure emotional reactions. Past research have demonstrated that emotional responses vary by age, gender and cultural background and they are not fixed features. Although these scales have been used in research for more than 30 years, there is no evidence that demonstrates how different populations (according to ethnicity) perceive and react to these scales. Therefore, the purpose off this research is that for the first time it will plan to provide evidence regarding the validity of using these SAMs with different populations in emotion and attention studies.
2. BENEFIT: A benefit of participating is the possibility of developing a greater understanding of how social research is conducted. Furthermore, at the conclusion of my participation, I can ask for an explanation of the topics that were investigated in this study. As a larger benefit to society, this research may increase social science's understanding of cultural differences in perceiving SAMs.
3. PROCEDURES: I will be asked to fill out a questionnaire online. This will take approximately 10-15 minutes to complete, depending upon the individual. The survey will begin by gathering some demographic information. Beyond this introductory information, the questionnaires will inquire about my understanding of SAM. I can skip any question that I choose not to answer and move to the next one.
4. CONFIDENTIALITY: Once I complete the questionnaire and submit my responses, the responses will automatically be added to a database that is maintained by the researcher. Only the researcher will have access to the database. Potential participants must remember, however, that Internet communications are insecure and there is a limit to the confidentiality that can be guaranteed due to the technology itself. By clicking on the "Agree" button below I do consent to participate in this study. You may discontinue your participation at any time simply by closing the window and shutting off your computer. Your identity (email or facebook information) will not be recorded and the database will be removed from the server every 1-2 days.
5. FURTHER QUESTIONS: Following the completion of the data collection, I can ask for a complete explanation of the study and will be able to contact the researcher if I have any questions (aeswx@uga.edu or 706.542.1812).

Additional questions or problems regarding your rights as a research participant should be addressed to The Chairperson, Institutional Review Board, University of Georgia, 629 Boyd Graduate Studies Research Center, Athens, Georgia 30602; Telephone (706) 542-3199; E-Mail Address IRB@uga.edu.