DEAKIN

Project Title: Single motherhood and partner choice: The impact of social support and other factors

Principal Researcher: Dr Greg Tooley

Student Researcher: Kelly Mischel

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.

Once you understand what the project is about and if you agree to take part in it, you will be asked to complete a questionnaire. By submitting the questionnaire, electronically or by mail, you indicate that you understand the information and that you give your consent to participate in the research project.

Purpose and Background

The purpose of this project is to explore how women behaved when dating men. The research is being conducted as a component of Kelly Mischel's Doctorate in Psychology (Forensic).

A total of approximately 500 people will participate in this project.

Previous research has shown that of the ecological variables that create risk for child maltreatment, single motherhood has been convincingly identified as a risk factor for physical abuse. The addition of a non-biological partner to the home of a single mother increases the risk of child abuse. Perhaps some single mothers, due to their circumstances, are less selective about the type of partner they are looking for and the qualities they possess. Some mothers are making choices regarding the men they date which are putting their children at greater risk of abuse. Whether these choices are conscious and voluntary or unconscious and forced, the decision making which informs the choices needs to be investigated. If we can better identify the families with the highest risk we can target interventions to assist single mothers and minimize their need to engage in relationships with unsuitable partners. In order to establish successful interventions it is necessary to understand the interactions between social and economic factors and single motherhood.

All women are invited to participate in this research project because in order to establish successful interventions it is necessary to understand the interactions between social and economic factors, single motherhood and dating behaviour.

The results of this research will be used to help researcher Kelly Mischel to obtain a Doctor of Psychology (Forensic) degree.

Procedures

If you agree to participate in this research you will be required to complete an anonymous questionnaire that will take approximately 30 minutes of your time. The questionnaire will ask you to provide information about your behaviour when dating, current or ideal partner, social support, level of stress and anxiety. The questionnaire is available in paper or electronic form available at http://www.deakin.edu.au/psychology/research/_____, which can be returned to the researchers by pressing the submit button. If you would like a paper copy please contact the researcher and it will be sent to you with a reply paid envelope which should be returned to the researchers, but please ensure not to include any information at will reveal your identity.

Possible Benefits

While we do not anticipate that you, as an individual, will receive any benefits from your participation in this project, it is important to better understand the factors that contribute to child maltreatment.

Possible Risks

This research poses minimal risks, however if at anytime while participating in this study you feel distressed please feel free to cease reading the questionnaire and withdraw your participation. Withdrawal from the study will have no negative consequences, as you only consent to participate upon returning the study materials to the researcher. If you feel distressed due to your participation we encourage you to contact Parentline or WIRE (Women's Information Service). Parentline is a counselling service staffed with experienced and trained volunteer counsellors. Parentline operates from 8.00am - midnight Monday to Friday and 10.00am to 10.00pm Saturday and Sunday and can be contacted on 132289. WIRE provides free information, support and referrals to women across Victoria and can be contacted on 1300 134 130, 9am-5pm.

Privacy, Confidentiality and Disclosure of Information

Participation in this research is entirely voluntary and you may at any time, without any consequences, choose to simply not complete the questionnaire. If you return the questionnaire you do not have to complete every question. However, there are no foreseeable risks involved in the completion of the questionnaire and your participation in the research would be greatly appreciated

All surveys will remain confidential. As a participant you are NOT required to disclose your name. We are only interested in aggregated information and any interpretation of the results will be based on the average scores of the total number of responses. No information which could identify any individual participant will be published.

In order to maintain anonymity, we ask that you do not record your name on any of the study materials. All data will remain confidential and will be de-identified. Only the named researchers will have access to the data and all data will be stored in secure facilities (i.e., locked cabinets). Data will be stored for a period of 6 years, after final publication, after which time the data will be destroyed.

If you give us your permission by submitting the questionnaire, we plan to use these results as the basis for Kelly Mischel's doctoral thesis and if appropriate we plan to submit a manuscript for publication in a peer-reviewed 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 during participation change your mind, you are free to withdraw and can choose not to return the study materials to the researchers. Because data is not identified, we cannot withdraw any data once it is returned to the researchers. 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.

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. Return or submit the questionnaire only after you have had a chance to ask your questions and have received satisfactory answers.

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 project, the way it is being conducted or any questions about your rights as a research participant, then you may contact:

Ms Silvia Rametta, Executive Officer, Human Research Ethics Committee, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood Victoria 3125, Telephone: 92517123 , Facsimile: 9244 6581.

Please quote project number EC 43-2008.

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 following researchers:

Dr Greg Tooley
C/- School of Psychology
Deakin University
221 Burwood Hwy
Burwood 3125
Ph: 9251 7365