Name of Researcher:
Dhyana Levey
1. Invitation paragraph
You are being invited to take part in a research project about former cult members and how they are impacted by media coverage about cults. Before you decide on whether to take part, it is important for you to understand why the research is being done and what it will involve. Please take time to read the following information carefully before you decide whether or not you wish to take part. You are welcome to discuss this project with others if you wish before you make your decision. Please ask us (D.Levey@edu.salford.ac.uk) if there is anything that is not clear or if you would like more information.
2. What is the purpose of the study?
The purpose of this study is to examine how former members of cults react to media coverage about cults and whether any perceived bias or unfair coverage affects former cult members’ emotional wellbeing and desire to reach out to others for mental health counselling. In the context of this study, the word “media” describes fiction and nonfiction television programming, films, podcasts, books, newspaper and magazine stories, online publications and blogs. Our hope is to understand whether media coverage encourages a stigma against people who were in cults and if that stigma hinders former members’ recoveries after they have left their groups. This information could be used to educate film producers, news outlets and other media content providers about more ethical and accurate ways to portray current and former members of cults. The study is part of a dissertation for the University of Salford’s Master of Science in the Psychology of Coercive Control.
3. Why have I been invited to take part?
We are seeking up to approximately 80 to 120 participants who were members for at least two years before leaving fringe religious, political, psychotherapy or business organizations that displayed a strong devotion to a leader, authoritarian tendencies, secrecy, rituals, isolation or other controlling aspects related to a cult or high-demand group. You have been chosen to participate based on your indication that you joined or were raised in a cult for at least two years before leaving. In order to take part, you must also have been out of your group for a minimum of two years and not be suffering from a severe and acute mental health condition.
4. Do I have to take part?
It is up to you to decide whether or not to take part. If you decide to participate, you will be asked to sign a consent form, but you can still withdraw at any time while taking part and up to two weeks after taking part for any reason. If you do withdraw, your data will be destroyed.
5. What will happen to me if I take part?
You will be asked to complete five separate surveys to measure your exposure to media about cults, psychological wellbeing, anxiety, extent of group identity and health. The questionnaires will be distributed to you via the Online Surveys. This study is open to adults ages 18 and older.
6. Expenses and payments?
There is no financial commitment required to participate in this study.
7. What are the possible disadvantages and risks of taking part?
It is possible that you might experience some discomfort during your participation because it could cause you to recall unpleasant memories and feelings. We will connect any participant who experiences discomfort to support and counselling resources through the International Cultic Studies Association at https://www.icsahome.com/support/counseling-resources, the US National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) at 800-950-6264 or UK Samaritans hotline at 116 123.
8. What are the possible benefits of taking part?
We cannot promise the study will help you but the information we gather from it will help to increase understanding of how media coverage about cult members affects their recovery after they leave. This information could be used to educate film producers, news outlets and other media content providers about more ethical and accurate ways to portray current and former members of cults.
9. What if there is a problem?
If you have a concern about any aspect of this study, you should ask to speak to the researcher Dhyana Levey by email D.Levey@edu.salford.ac.uk who will do her best to answer your questions. Following this, if you have any issues or complaints, you may contact the research supervisor Rod Dubrow-Marshall by email r.dubrow-marshall@salford.ac.uk. If the matter is still not resolved, please forward your concerns to Dr Linda Dubrow-Marshall, Co-Chair of the Health Taught Ethics Panel, Room C809, Allerton Building, Frederick Road Campus, University of Salford, Salford, M6 6PU l.dubrow-marshall@salford.ac.uk
10. Will my taking part in the study be kept confidential?
Yes: Research participants will be asked to create their own, unique participant codes, known only to the researcher and supervisor to ensure that their identity remains anonymous and confidential. Demographic information will be stored on the University of Salford OneDrive account set up by the researcher, who will follow General Data Protection Regulation (2018) requirements. The identities of research participants will be hidden through the use of pseudonyms, unless prior consent has been obtained from the individual involved.
Please note that your anonymised data (including any personal data and special categories of personal data processed according to conditions of article 6 (paragraph 1(a)) and article 9 (paragraphs 2(a) and 2(j) of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) 2018 respectively) will be used in the researcher’s data analysis for a Masters dissertation and potentially in any related publications or conference presentations.
Here is the link to the University’s Research Privacy Notice that sets out details about the University’s processing of personal information for research purposes:
https://www.salford.ac.uk/privacy/introduction/research-privacy-notice
11. What will happen if I don’t carry on with the study?
If you decide to participate, you will be asked to complete an online consent form, but you can still withdraw at any time for any reason while completing the surveys and up to two weeks after completing the surveys.
12. What will happen to the results of the research study?
The results of this study could be used to educate film producers, news outlets and other media content providers about more ethical and accurate ways to portray current and former members of cults.
13. Who is organising or sponsoring the research?
The study is part of a dissertation for the University of Salford’s Master of Science in the Psychology of Coercive Control.
14. Further information and contact details:
For further information, please contact the researcher, Dhyana Levey, by email D.Levey@edu.salford.ac.uk and she will do her best to answer your questions. You may also contact the research supervisor Rod Dubrow-Marshall by email r.dubrow-marshall@salford.ac.uk.
No comments:
Post a Comment