Dating in the Digital Age - Eligibility to participate in the Survey

Please read the following letter from the study's creator for details on the goals of this research, what participants can expect, and how your privacy is being protected:

Dear potential study participant:

People meet their dating partners in many ways. Some people may be introduced to a dating partner through friends, or they may meet someone at work or a social event. Others may meet people through the internet—sites such as Facebook, Plenty of Fish, chat rooms, email, and/or text messaging.

In this survey, we are interested in learning about how women meet their male dating partners. We are particularly interested in women's experiences, including sexual experiences, with these partners. If you participate in this survey, you will be asked questions about how you met your most recent male dating partner (with whom you have had sex), and the topics you discussed prior to having sex with this partner.

Because we are interested in women's sexuality, we will be asking you questions about the reason(s) you initially had sex with your partner, and the different type(s) of sexual activities you engaged in with him. We will also ask you about your experience of orgasm (or absence of) during certain types of sexual activities overall. In addition, there will be questions related to your age and other background factors.

All your answers will remain anonymous and will not be linked back to you in any way. There are no right or wrong answers, only your own individual opinions. We realize that some of these questions are very personal, but your answers are very important to us. They will help nurses' and other health care professionals' understanding of the issues that are important to women's sexuality and their health. Please answer all the questions as honestly and as best you can.

You will first be asked to answer some questions to determine your eligibility for this study. If you are eligible, you will be invited to participate. You will then complete the online questionnaire at a time, and in a location convenient for you. The questionnaire will take approximately 30 to 40 minutes to complete. If you cannot complete the questionnaire in one sitting, you can save your answers and return at a later time. You are asked to complete the questionnaire on your own.

Those participating in this study will be eligible to win a draw prize (e.g. an iPad2, iPod nanos, Blenz gift cards). After completing the questionnaire, you will be provided with the option of filling out a separate online data form to enter the draw for the prizes. If you enter the draw, we will require your email address so we may contact you if you win one of the prizes. To ensure your confidentiality is maintained, the draw prize data form will be stored separately from your questionnaire. These will not be linked in any way.

After you have completed the questionnaire you will be provided with an opportunity to share any comments or stories about your dating and sexual experiences with other study participants and the researchers in a blog. The blog will be made available on the study website and is entirely voluntary. Comments or stories will be anonymous, and in no way linked to your questionnaire. Although there are no current plans to use the information posted on the blog in this research, it may be used for future research purposes.

Information obtained from this study will be kept strictly confidential. Your name is not included on the questionnaire and there is no way for anyone to trace your answers back to you. You or any other participants will not be identified by name in any reports of the completed study. The student and faculty researchers are the only people with access to study data.

There are no known risks or benefits to you for participating in this study. You may however contribute to new information that may benefit women's sexual health care and the services offered to them in the future.

This research is for a Doctorate degree in Nursing from the University of British Columbia. Your participation in this study is entirely voluntary. You may refuse to participate or withdraw from this study at any time.

If you have any concerns about your treatment or rights as a research subject, you may contact the Research Subject Information Line in the UBC Office of Research Services at (604) 822-8598.

If the questionnaire is completed, it will be assumed that you have agreed to participate in this study and, therefore, you will have given your consent.

If you have any questions or want to know further information about this study, you may contact Cindy Masaro at (604) 376-6723.

Sincerely,

Cindy Masaro, RN, MSN
PhD Candidate
Graduate Student Researcher
School of Nursing
University of British Columbia
604-376-6723
cindy.masaro@gmail.com

To help us determine if you are eligible, please check "yes" or "no" for each of the statements below.


	Within the last year I have been actively dating		Yes No

	I have had at least one sexual encounter with a male partner within the last 12 months. A sexual encounter for this research is considered to be any type of oral sex (giving or receiving), and/or vaginal/anal penile penetration, as well as any genital to genital (skin to skin) contact that does not necessarily involve penetration.		Yes No

	I am a woman 25 years of age or older		Yes No

	I live in Canada or the United States of America		Yes No

	If you cannot complete the survey in one sitting, you may exit at any time and return later on (Provided you use the same computer and browser). Your work will be saved automatically. When you return to the survey, you will begin from where you left off. You will not be able to go back and change previous answers.