Participant Information Sheet
Research Question:
Exploring Sexuality Knowledge and Romantic Relationships in Autistic Adolescents and Young Adults and Adolescents and Young Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, and Autism Spectrum Condition co-occurring with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Perspectives from Caregivers, Educational Professionals and Adolescents and Young Adults
I would like to invite you to take part in my research study. Before you decide you need to understand why the research is being done and what it would involve for you. Please take time to read the following information carefully. Feel free to ask questions or contact me if anything you read is not clear or would like more information. Take time to decide whether or not to take part.
What is the main purpose of this study?
To investigate your accounts on:
- experiences of your romantic relationships and dating
- your sexuality knowledge and sexuality understanding
- sexuality education you receive/have received in your school/college
- your recommendations on support/interventions you would like to receive in order to improve your sexuality knowledge and understanding
- your recommendations on support/interventions you would like to receive in order to improve your romantic relationships and dating experiences
Why have I been invited?
You are an individual between 18-25 years old who is neurotypical (has not been diagnosed with any neurodevelopmental conditions) or has a diagnosis of ASD or ADHD or ASD co-occurring with ADHD.
Do I have to take part?
Taking part in this study is completely voluntary hence you can decide whether you would like to participate in it or not. Note, you are free to withdraw from the research within three weeks’ time from the completion of the questionnaire. After three weeks’ time, the data analysis will have begun and no removal from the study will be possible. You may request the withdrawal from the study by notifying the researcher about it via the university email. Any data collected from you, will be destroyed from the researcher’s files.
What will happen to me if I take part?
You will be asked to complete a questionnaire, which comprises 22 questions. It may take 5-10 minutes to complete it.
What are the disadvantages and risks of taking part?
This project may include highly sensitive questions (note, you may leave questions which you regard too sensitive unanswered), thus there is a risk of experiencing psychological discomfort. You may stop completing the questionnaire at any point if you feel distressed or too uncomfortable to continue. A list of independent support services is given at the bottom of this questionnaire in case you would need professional assistance.
What are the possible benefits of taking part?
The researcher cannot promise the study will help you, however, your participation will contribute to the better understanding of the importance of sexuality education for young individuals with ASD, ADHD, and ASD co-occurring with ADHD. This may benefit mental health services, health education and the criminal justice system.
What if there is a problem?
Should you have any concerns about the research, please do not hesitate to contact the researcher Magdalena Smusz PhD Candidate (M.P.Smusz@edu.salford.ac.uk) and she will do her best to answer your questions.
Alternatively, you may contact the supervisors: Dr Clare Allely (c.s.allely@salford.ac.uk), Dr Amy Bidgood (a.bidgood@salford.ac.uk) or Dr Mariyana Schoultz (M.Schoultz@salford.ac.uk). Complaints should be addressed to Professor Andrew Clark, Chair of the Health Research Ethical Approval Panel, Allerton Building, Frederick Road Campus, University of Salford, Salford, M6 6PU. Tel: 0161 295 4109. E: a.clark@salford.ac.uk
Will my part in the study will be kept confidential?
It will be ensured that all data and information provided on the questionnaires will be strictly confidential and the privacy of the participants will be respected according to the Data Protection Act 1988*. However, the questionnaire will be anonymous, therefore you are not asked to provide your name on it. Data will be collected anonymously, and you will receive a receipt code from the online survey. If you would like to remove your data from the study, you will be asked to provide the receipt code. Hard copies of data will be stored in a locked drawer, within a locked room on university premises. The researcher and the supervisors will be the only persons having access to your data. Any data transported onto computer discs, CD’s, and USB memory sticks, will remain anonymous and will be encrypted to protect against loss. Data will be stored and archived for a minimum of 3 years, after the graduate award has been made, to allow verification of data from external sources if necessary.
All data will be anonymous; therefore, it will not be possible to identify you in any disseminated output.
What will happen if I don’t carry on with the study?
You are free to withdraw from the study within three weeks from completing the questionnaire. Your data will be removed and not included in any disseminated output. There will not be any further consequences due to your removal.
What will happen to the results of the study?
The results of the study will be used to complete the research question and write in a PhD dissertation. Additionally, results might be shared in conference presentations and journal articles.
All your data will remain anonymous. The results will be seen by the supervisors. If you wish to see the results, you will be able to do so on the completion of the research. You will need to contact the researcher via their email address and request the copy of the results.
Who has reviewed the project?
The research project has been reviewed and approved by the Research, Enterprise and Engagement Ethical Approval Panel.
The list of independent organisations in the UK:
Further information and contact details:
Should you require any further information please contact the primary researcher:
Magdalena Smusz, M.P.Smusz@edu.salford.ac.uk
Alternatively, you may contact the supervisory team:
c.s.allely@salford.ac.uk
a.bidgood@salford.ac.uk
M.Schoultz@salford.ac.uk
* The UK Data Archive is a national centre of expertise in data archiving in the United Kingdom. It houses the largest collection of digital data in the social sciences and humanities in the UK. It is certified under the Data Seal of Approval as a trusted digital repository (https://www.data-archive.ac.uk/).