Introduction
We would like to invite you to participate in a study examining the daily life experiences of undergraduate students who have recently graduated from a university in the Atlantic provinces during the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic. This study will take approximately 15-30 minutes to complete. This project has been reviewed by the University of New Brunswick’s (UNB) Research Ethics Board and is on file as 2020-145.
Researcher Information
This study is conducted by Jennifer McWilliams, a PhD student in Psychology under the supervision of Drs. Carmen Poulin and Lynne Gouliquer, from the Department of Psychology at the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton. If you wish to contact the researchers, you may contact Jennifer McWilliams, Dr. Carmen Poulin, or Dr. Lynne Gouliquer.
Procedure
In this study, you will be asked to:
- Provide demographic information about yourself. For example, you will be asked to indicate your country and province/territory of residence, gender, age, ethnic background, income, and level of educational attainment, relationship status, and number and ages of any children.
- Complete questions concerning your mental health, physical health, and overall wellbeing, as well as questions regarding possible stressors (e.g., finances) that you may be experiencing as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Participation Information
Please ensure that you complete the survey in private, as well as in one sitting. Participation in this study is completely voluntary; you may choose not to answer any specific question(s) if you feel uncomfortable. Please do not include any sensitive information in your response (e.g., name). At the end of the survey, you will be given the choice to either submit your responses or withdraw your data from the study entirely. Please note that once you submit your data, it will not be possible to withdraw your responses. However, your responses are strictly confidential.
In the second phase of our study, a small number of participants will be interviewed about their experiences prior to and during COVID-19. If you would like to be considered for this second phase of the study, you can indicate your willingness to participate in an interview at the end of the survey. If selected, we – the researchers – will contact you to schedule a mutually convenient time for your interview.
Risks/Benefits
It is not expected that you will face any risks or discomfort during your participation. However, if you find that you are becoming upset when thinking about your experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic, please feel free to withdraw from the study at any time.
Although there are no direct benefits, by participating in this psychological study, you will be provided with an opportunity to see how research is conducted and simultaneously participate in a research project.
Confidentiality
All of your information will be kept confidential and stored on a password-protected research laptop. The principal researcher (Jennifer McWilliams), supervisors (Drs. Carmen Poulin and Lynne Gouliquer), and their research assistants are the only people who may have access to the data, and all are bound by strict ethical and confidentiality principles. All results will be reported on a group basis for any presentation or publication of results.
Contact Information
If you have any questions or concerns about the study, you can contact the researchers, Jennifer McWilliams (jsanfor1@unb.ca), Dr. Carmen Poulin (carmen@unb.ca), or Dr. Lynne Gouliquer (mgouliqu@unb.ca). If you have any ethical concerns about your participation in this study and would like to speak to someone who is not involved in this research, please contact the Chair of the Department of Psychology Ethics Review Committee at the University of New Brunswick, Dr. Lucia O'Sullivan, at osulliv@unb.ca (506-458 7698) or Dr. David Coleman, Chair of the UNB Research Ethics Board at ethics@unb.ca or (506) 453-5189.
I confirm that I have read the information on the INFORMED CONSENT FORM and have had the opportunity to have my questions answered to my satisfaction. I am also aware that all records are entirely confidential, and that I may discontinue my participation at any point in the study without loss of compensation. I am indicating that I volunteer to participate in the study.
I understand the terms of this study and consent to participate.