Consent to Participate in Research Study
You are invited to participate in this online research study entitled "Use of Self-Help Materials for Clients Currently in Therapy." You are invited to participate in this survey because you are: (1) 18 years of age or older, (2) currently in psychotherapy, (3) have access to a device that would allow you to complete the survey.
This online survey may take approximately 10 minutes to complete. Your participation is voluntary. If you do not wish to participate in this survey, simply exit and do not respond to further questions. Overall, completing the survey indicates that you are voluntarily giving consent to participate in the survey. It is anticipated that approximately 200 individuals will participate in the study.
The general purpose of this study is to explore whether clients in therapy are using additional resources outside of their therapy to help them accomplish their mental health goals. These resources may include books, computerized programs, mobile apps, or other online resources. Of the many resources clients might use, we are particularly interested in clients who have currently or previously used mental health applications (apps). If you have used such apps in the past, you will also be asked to provide reasons why you downloaded the mental health app, if and how you use the app as part of your therapy with your therapist, and whether you have found the app to be helpful. You can participate even if you have NEVER used any of these self-help resources. This survey is being done for research purposes only and will be provided at no cost to you.
It is anticipated that there will be no physical risks involved in taking part in this study. There may be some psychological risks associated with participating in this study, but those risks are minimal. There are questions about your own psychological distress and/or concerns. Some people may find answering these questions to be frustrating, upsetting, or difficult. If you decide that you need to discuss any issues which upset you about the study, you may contact the principal investigator. For participants in need of crisis intervention, call 988 for immediate support.
If you choose to participate in this study, you may either (1) receive 2 credits for SONA if you are an undergraduate at Rowan University participating for credits for your Essentials of Psychology course or (2) you may be entered into a raffle to win a $15 gift card. You may learn more about why you might find mental health apps helpful. Additionally, you would provide information to help researchers further understand why individuals might use other materials to help them with their mental health goals while also in therapy.
The information you provide will be anonymous. There is no way to link your answers to your name or any other identifying information. In addition, the data will be kept in a secure password-protected computer file for six years following the completion of the study. Any part of the data collection that is published will, once again, not include any individual information. Personal information (i.e.SSN) may be collected for tax reporting purposes related to compensation for participation in this study. This personal information will not be included with your research data and records will not be used by researchers conducting this study.
Participation is completely voluntary. There are no alternative studies to participate in if you choose to not partake in this specific study. The only alternative is to not participate.
If you have any questions about your rights as a research subject, please contact the Office of Research Compliance at (856) 256-4078– Glassboro/CMSRU or cirb@rowan.edu, as well as the Study Coordinator Ninelle Edenne, B.A. at edenne43@rowan.edy or the Principal Investigator Jim A. Haugh, Ph.D. at (856) 256-4500 x53781 or road@rowan.edu. This study has been approved under Rowan University's Institutional Review Board, IRB-FY2021-14.