The New Mexico State University Romantic Relationship Project

Your sincere and conscientious effort is greatly appreciated and is essential for the quality of the study. Thank you for participating.

Researcher: Peter K. Jonason, M. A., (pjonason@nmsu.edu).

Overview of the study:

In this study you are going to be questions surrounding the involvement of sexually transmitted diseases (STD) in dating. You will be asked whether you have presently or have ever in the past infected with an STD, whether you would date someone who has an STD, whether you have dated someone who was infected.  You will be also asked about what types of reasons that cause distress in relation to infidelity. Finally, you will be asked about your partner preferences and your distance willing to travel for a new romantic relationships. After you complete the survey, the rational for the study will be provided.

Instructions:

• Complete the survey privately - with no one else around (a dorm room is perfect).
• Although some of the questions may seem redundant, they do focus on slightly different issues.
• Respond to each question.
• If you do not answer a question you will be prompted to re-enter missing responses when you attempt to go to the next page.
• You may choose not to answer any question.
• Be sure to indicate you are choosing not to answer the question with a statement such as, "I choose not to answer this question."
• If you feel that you don't know the answer to the question, please answer, "I don't know."
• You may discontinue your participation in this study at any time.
• Your answers will be kept strictly confidential.
  • However, statements you provide may be used, but only for scholarly purposes.
  • Any statement thus used will be presented anonymously, that is, without any information that might identify you or anyone you describe.
  • For example, parts of the event that might make it identifiable, especially names, will be changed before a statement is used for scholarly purposes.
• Your answers will be kept in a hidden, password-protected file that can only be accessed by the researchers.

Informed Consent Agreement:

Principle investigator
Peter K. Jonason, M.A.
Department of Psychology
New Mexico State University
505.521.0079

Description
In this study I am interested in assessing how aspects of dating are affected by STD infection of the participants and others. You will be asked to complete a brief survey that should take you no longer than 45 minutes to complete.

Confidentiality
The nature of some of the information is sensitive and thus will be kept confidential. There is no link to any identifying information in either the survey or the data. I hope that you will respond honestly knowing this information is confidential and anonymous. You will however, be assigned participant number. This is only to organize and will have only coincidental correspondence to any numbers that you give.

Benefits
Participation in this study may benefit you personally because you may gain greater insight into some aspects of your psychology. You will also gain course credit in your psychology class. You will also receive credit for this experiment whether you complete it or chose to terminate it at anytime.

Risk
There are no known risks to you in this study. Due to the sensitive nature of some of the questions being asked in this study you may feel somewhat uncomfortable but be assured your answers are anonymous and your honesty is greatly appreciated.

Contact information
If you have any questions regarding this study please contact the Principle investigator at the phone number listed above. If you have any questions about your rights as a research participant, please contact the Office of the Vice Provost for Research at New Mexico State University at 505.646.2481.

Voluntary nature of participation
Your participation in this study is strictly voluntary. If you do not wish to participate, or would like to end your participation in this study at any time, there will be no penalty or loss of benefits to you for which you are otherwise not entitled. In other words, you are free to make your own choice about being or not being in this study, and may quit at any time without penalty.

By clicking below to begin this study you will be saying:

"I consent to participate in this research in which I will answer a series of questions about my dating patterns and behavior, infidelity, and STDs. I understand that some of these questions may concern sensitive issues, but that I can choose not to answer any question. I understand that all the information I submit will be strictly confidential, and that my participation in this study is voluntary. I understand that I may choose to terminate my participation at any time, without fear of punishment or reprisal.

The study should take less than 45 minutes to complete. If you I am doing this for course credit, I understand that I will receive 1 hour of research credit in exchange for my participation. If I am doing this for extra credit in a class, I understand I will receive whatever amount my teacher has assigned participation in this study.  By registering for this study, I certify that I have read and understood the above information and voluntarily consent to participate in this research."

If you agree please continue.

Registration:

Register by clicking on the Register button below. Create a codename that does not tell us who you are but will allow us to keep your responses organized (e.g., hamburgler) and make up a password. You may choose any password you want.  This information is NOT linked with your name but is used to award credit where credit is due.  

        To register for the study, click here:

By clicking this button, I indicate that I have read the above information and voluntarily consent to participate in this study.

Begin the survey:

It is essential that you do not discuss the contents of the survey with anyone else who might participate in this study in the future.
Please complete the survey with no one else around.