Deakin University - Plain Language Statement

Full Project Title: Presentation and Dress

Principal Researcher: Associate Professor Mark Stokes

Your Consent
You are invited to take part in this research project.

This Plain Language Statement contains detailed information about the research project. Its purpose is to explain to you as openly and clearly as possible all the procedures involved in this project so that you can make a fully informed decision whether you are going to participate.

Please read this Plain Language Statement carefully. Feel free to ask questions about any information in the document. You may also wish to discuss the project with a relative or friend or your local health worker. Feel free to do this.

Purpose and Background
The purpose of this project is to uncover the mechanisms of the everyday act of dressing and to establish whether different patterns of behaviour are involved in the presentation and fashionability among high-functioning autistic individuals. This research is being conducted as part of a PhD (Psychology) thesis.

A total of at least 180 people will participate in this project.

Previous experience has shown that dress sense and fashionability to be one of the most noticeable features features of a person because of the importance of presentation to social outcomes. We are undertaking a study to explore people’s sense of these.

You are invited to participate in this research project because you are a parent or guardian of a 12-18 year old individual.

The results of this research may be used to help researcher Iskra Galic to obtain a Doctorate of Philosophy.

Procedures
Participation in this project will involve completion of a questionnaire, either online or in hard-copy format. The questionnaire will take no longer than 10-15 minutes to complete. The questionnaire involves items relating to day-to-day personal clothing preferences and behaviour such as ‘How would you describe how you dress?’,’ I think clothing is important’, ‘I wear clothes to cover my body’. You will be encouraged to complete all items on the questionnaire, though you may omit some some items if you do not wish to respond to them. If you wish to participate you may complete the online questionnaire at any time, and upon completion you will be requested to click on a button to submit it to a researcher. If you wish to participate you may complete the hard-copy version of the questionnaire, you will be requested to to submit it in a provided reply-paid envelope to the researcher upon completion.


Possible Benefits
Possible benefits include potentially identifying areas of need which have been neglected in the research literature which may provide potential insight into beneficial interventions among this group and the community as a whole.

We cannot guarantee or promise that you will receive any direct benefits from this project.


Possible Risks
There are no foreseeable risks for participating in this study as you will simply be required to complete questionnaire items focusing on the everyday act of dressing and presentation. However, in the unlikely even that you do experience any form of discomfort or distress through participating in this study, you may call Lifeline (24 hour crisis line) on 131 114. You may choose to withdraw from the study at any time prior to submitting the questionnaire without any effects occurring for you.


Privacy, Confidentiality and Disclosure of Information
You will be instructed not to write your name or any other identifying details on the questionnaire, so as to ensure strict anonymity and confidentiality. Only aggregated data will be reported in a thesis and by submitting the questionnaire you are agreeing to allow your results to be used to form aggregate data.

The information collected during the study will be stored in hard-copy and computer files in secure storage for a minimum of 6 year, in accordance with Deakin University guidelines. Following this period the hard copy files will be destroyed and the computer files deleted. A report of the study may be submitted for publication to a psychological journal, however individual participants will not be identifiable in such a report as only aggregate data will be reported

Results of Project
You are encouraged to contact the researcher at the completion of the study to be informed of the aggregate research findings. Aggregate results will be published in a thesis and it is anticipated that they will also form part of a publication in a psychology journal.

Participation is Voluntary
Participation in any research project is voluntary. If you do not wish to take part you are not obliged to. If you decide to take part and later change your mind, you are free to withdraw from the project at any stage before you submit your completed questionnaire. After you submit your questionnaire it will not be possible to withdraw from participation as there will be no way of identifying which questionnaire is yours. Any information obtained from you to date will not be used and will be destroyed.

Your decision whether to take part or not to take part, or to take part and then withdraw, will not affect your relationship with Deakin University or through which you have been invited to participate.

Before you make your decision, a member of the research team will be available to answer any questions you have about the research project. You can ask for any information you want. Sign the Consent Form only after you have had a chance to ask your questions and have received satisfactory answers.

If you decide to withdraw from this project, please do not submit your questionnaire.


Ethical Guidelines
This project will be carried out according to the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research (2007) produced by the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia. This statement has been developed to protect the interests of people who agree to participate in human research studies.

The ethics aspects of this research project have been approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee of Deakin University.


Complaints
If you have any complaints about any aspect of the research, the way it is being conducted or any questions about your rights as a participant then you may contact Secretary HEAG-H 102/09, Dean's Office, Faculty of Health, Medicine, Nursing and Behavioural Sciences, 221 Burwood Hwy, Burwood, VIC 3125, Telephone: (03) 9251 7174, Email hmnbs-research@deakin.edu.au


Reimbursement for your costs
You will not be paid for your participation in this project.


Further Information, Queries or Any Problems
If you require further information, wish to withdraw your participation or if you have any problems concerning this project (for example, any side effects), you can contact the principal researcher, Associate Professor Mark Stokes, or the student researcher Iskra Galic.

The researchers responsible for this project are:

Iskra Galic (student researcher)
School of Psychology
Deakin University
221 Burwood Hwy, Burwood, 3125.
Ph: 9251 7235.
For after hours contact, please call 0423 435 021.
Email: igal@deakin.edu.au

Associate Professor Mark Stokes (principal researcher),
School of Psychology
Deakin University
221 Burwood Hwy, Burwood, 3125.
Ph: 9244 6865.

Consent Form