INTRODUCTION
You are invited to participate in a research study examining behaviors on dating/hook-up apps. You qualify to take part in this research study if you:
(1) are 18 years old or over
(2) identify as a man
(3) are attracted to men (i.e., you are gay, bisexual, same-gender loving, etc.)
(4) use dating/hook-up apps
(5) live in the United States
WHY IS THIS STUDY BEING DONE?
The purpose of this study is to identify a range of experiences on dating/hook-up apps for individuals who are attracted to men.
WHAT WILL I BE ASKED TO DO IF I AGREE TO TAKE PART IN THIS STUDY?
If you decide to participate, you will be asked to complete a survey and a demographic questionnaire. All activities will take place on the Internet in a location convenient to you. Completing the study should take no more than 25-35 minutes.
WHAT POSSIBLE RISKS OR DISCOMFORTS CAN I EXPECT FROM TAKING PART IN THIS STUDY?
This is a minimal risk study, which means the harm or discomfort that you may experience are no greater than you would ordinarily encounter in daily life such as classroom discussions about social interactions. However, there are some risks to consider. You might feel mild discomfort when thinking about past experiences. You can stop participating in the study at any time without penalty. The principal investigator (PI) is taking precautions to keep your information confidential and prevent anyone from discovering or guessing your identity by not asking identifying information and keeping all information on a password protected computer.
WHAT POSSIBLE BENEFITS CAN I EXPECT FROM TAKING PART IN THIS STUDY?
There are no assured benefits from participating in this study.
WILL I BE PAID FOR BEING IN THIS STUDY?
You will not be paid to participate and there are no costs to you for taking part in this study.
WHEN IS THE STUDY OVER? CAN I LEAVE THE STUDY BEFORE IT ENDS?
The study is over when you have completed the survey. However, you can leave the study at any time even if you haven’t finished. You can leave the survey by exiting your Internet browser.
PROTECTION OF YOUR CONFIDENTIALITY
Your responses in this study will be kept private and anonymous. All data will be kept confidential and no individual results will ever be reported. All questionnaires will only be accessible to the principal investigator. The data collected will be stored in the HIPAA-compliant, Qualtrics-secure database until it has been deleted by the PI. During analysis, data will be secured in an encrypted file and saved on a password-protected computer, accessible only by the principal investigator. Regulations require that research data be kept for at least three years.
HOW WILL THE RESULTS BE USED?
The results of this study may be published in journals or presented at academic conferences. Your name or any identifying information about you will not be published.
WHO CAN ANSWER MY QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS STUDY?
If you have any questions about taking part in this research study, you should contact Dr. Melanie Brewster by phone (212-678-7441) or email (melanie.brewster@tc.columbia.edu). This study has been approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) at Teachers College, Columbia University (Protocol #16-348).
The Institutional Review Board (IRB) is the committee that oversees human research protection for Teachers College, Columbia University. If you have questions or concerns about your rights as a research participant, you should contact the IRB at 212-678-4105 or email IRB@tc.edu. Alternatively, you can write to the IRB at Teachers College, Columbia University, 525 W. 120th Street, New York, NY 10027.