Greetings,
My name is Alison Duckett and I am a Master of Arts
Candidate in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at the University of
Guelph in Ontario, Canada. I am conducting research under the supervision of
Dr. Patrick Parnaby regarding gender disappointment. I am interested in women's
experiences of gender disappointment and of the gender disappointment online
community. I have received permission from Maureen to post this recruitment
letter in your forum.
I am currently seeking volunteers who would be willing to
participate in an e-mail interview. If you choose to participate, e-mailing me
will mean that you consent to participate in this research. The duration of the
e-mail interview will depend upon how frequently e-mails are exchanged. There
will be no compensation for participation in the e-mail interview. A detailed
outline of the research follows this letter.
I would be happy to answer any question that you may have
regarding this process.
If you would be interested in participating, please contact
me by e-mail aduckett@uoguelph.ca.
Sincerely,
Alison Duckett
M.A. Candidate, Sociology
Department of Sociology and Anthropology
University of Guelph
LETTER OF INFORMATION
AND CONSENT
TO PARTICIPATE IN
RESEARCH
"Online Communities
and Discussions of Sex Selection"
You are invited to
participate in a research study being conducted by Alison Duckett, M.A.
Candidate, under the supervision of Dr. Patrick Parnaby of the Department of
Sociology and Anthropology at the University of Guelph.
If you have any questions or
concerns about the research please feel free to contact:
Dr. Patrick Parnaby
Department of
Sociology/Anthropology
University of Guelph.
Tel: 519-824-4120 (extension
53941)
Email: pparnaby@uoguelph.ca
PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
Women
are discovering and researching new reproductive technologies, specifically sex
selection technologies, on the Internet. It is through computer mediated
communication that a growing number of women are communicating with one another
about their desire to use prenatal diagnosis and sex selection technology as a
means of choosing and/or determining the sex of their fetus. The purpose of
this research is to identify the social organization and function of the online
communities which host discussions about sex selection on the Internet and in
particular which host discussions of gender disappointment.
PROCEDURES
If
you volunteer to participate in this study, you would be asked to participate
in a confidential e-mail interview with the researcher. The interview would
require no advanced preparation and would consist of questions exploring gender
disappointment and the gender disappointment online community. The duration of
the e-mail interview will depend upon how frequently e-mails are exchanged.
Copies of your e-mail dialogue will be made available to you for a period of
eight months following the initial interview date.
POTENTIAL RISKS AND DISCOMFORTS
This research presents no
foreseeable physical or psychological risks to those involved. Although it will require participants to take time
out of their busy day to participate, there are otherwise no inconveniences.
POTENTIAL BENEFITS TO PARTICIPANTS
AND/OR SOCIETY
Apart from being involved in
an interesting research interview, participants will not benefit from taking part.
PAYMENT FOR PARTICIPATION
There will be no compensation
for participation in the e-mail interview.
CONFIDENTIALITY
Every effort will be made to
ensure complete confidentiality of any identifying information that is obtained
in connection with this study. Specifically:
- In all subsequent reports and documentation,
pseudonyms will be used when referring to
participants.
- All other names and/or locations will be given
pseudonyms - including real names, user names, signatures, the bulletin
board systems and the websites, as well as to any reference made to other
individuals and names of cities, states, provinces and medical clinics.
- Interview transcripts will be held by the primary
researcher indefinitely for the purpose of future research.
PARTICIPATION AND WITHDRAWAL
You can choose whether to be
in this study or not. If you choose to
participate, e-mailing me will mean that you consent to participate in this
research. If you volunteer to be in this study, you may withdraw at any time
without consequences of any kind. You
may exercise the option of removing your data from the study. You may also refuse to answer any questions
you don't want to answer and still remain in the study. The investigator may withdraw you from this
research if circumstances arise that warrant doing so.
RIGHTS OF RESEARCH PARTICIPANTS
You may withdraw your consent
at any time and discontinue participation without penalty. You are not waiving any legal claims, rights
or remedies because of your participation in this research study. This study has been reviewed and received
ethics clearance through the University of Guelph Research Ethics Board. If you have questions regarding your rights
as a research participant, contact:
Research Ethics Coordinator
Telephone: (519) 824-4120, ext. 56606
University of Guelph E-mail:
sauld@uoguelph.ca
437 University Centre Fax:
(519) 821-5236
Guelph, ON
N1G 2W1