Informed Consent Form for Social Science Research

1.     Purpose of the Study:  The purpose is to determine the range of scores on a personality inventory that corresponds to acquaintance perceptions of "low,"  "average," and "high" levels of the traits being measured. Please note that this study is being conducted purely as part of an academic research program and has no commercial connections.

2.     Procedures to be followed:  One of our participants (hereafter referred to as "X") has nominated you as someone who knows them well. On this website you'll find a set of 35 rating scales that we would like you to use to describe X. Please keep in mind that you will not be describing yourself, you will be describing X. If you do not know who nominated you for this study (i.e., who X is), please email the investigator at j5j@psu.edu before completing the ratings. X will not see your ratings.

3.     Discomforts and Risks:  There are no risks in participating in this research beyond those experienced in everyday life. Providing personal information about X might cause some discomfort. However, the information you are providing reflects only normal differences in personality that are evident to people who know X in everyday life. Your ratings will not reveal abnormalities or hidden information about X. You are therefore unlikely to experience appreciable discomfort while making these ratings. Although you are encouraged to rate all 35 personality traits, you may skip traits you prefer not to rate.

4.     Benefits: Your participation might provide a better understanding of how people's scores on a personality inventory relate to the way they are seen by others who know them well. This information could help us design more accurate feedback for those who take the personality inventory.

5.     Duration:  It will take about 40-50 minutes to complete the ratings.

6.     Statement of Confidentiality: Confidentiality will be maintained to the degree permitted by the technology used. Specifically, no guarantees can be made regarding the interception of data sent via the Internet by any third parties. The data will be stored and secured temporarily in a password protected file on the principal investigator's web site until all data are collected. Data will then be downloaded to a password protected file on the principal investigator's personal computer and deleted from the web site. After records are matched to scores on a personality inventory completed by X, identifying information will be deleted from the data and replaced by a sequence of numbers. The following may review and copy records related to this research: The Office of Human Research Protections in the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services; The Penn State University Social Science Institutional Review Board (IRB); The Penn State University Office for Research Protections (ORP).  All written and verbal accounts of the results will be anonymous. In the event of a publication or presentation resulting from the research, no personally identifiable information will be shared.   

7.     Right to Ask Questions: You can ask questions about this research. Contact John A. Johnson (814) 375-4774 with questions. You can also call this number if you have complaints or concerns about this research. If you have questions about your rights as a research participant, or you have concerns or general questions about the research, contact Penn State University's Office for Research Protections at (814) 865-1775. You may also call this number if you cannot reach the research team or wish to talk to someone else.

8.     Payment for participation:  X will receive 12 extra credit points for completing his or her portion of the research. You will not be paid or compensated in any way for your participation. X can receive extra credit through other alternatives and does not require your participation to receive extra credit.

9.     Voluntary Participation: Your decision to participate in this research is voluntary. Agreeing to participate does not commit you to anything. You can always withdraw at any time, choose not to answer any of the questions, or deny the investigator permission to use your data. If you decline to participate, this will not jeopardize X's grade in the course, which is based strictly on points earned on exams and extra credit as outlined in the course syllabus. Refusal to take part in or withdrawing from this study will involve no penalty or loss of benefits you would receive otherwise and will not affect your present or future relationship with the Pennsylvania State University.

You must be 18 years of age or older to take part in this research study.  If you agree to take part in this research study, please enter the 4-digit ID code from the email inviting you to participate and click on the "I Agree" button below. This will indicate that you understand and agree to all of the above and that you give your consent to use the data you provide.  Clicking on this button will send an email to the investigator to document that you are providing informed consent. Clicking on this button does not constitute a waiver of any legal rights.

Please print a copy of this consent now for your records.

Clicking below will take you to the rating form. Please complete the ratings only once. Please be sure you know who you are rating (who X is) before continuing. Thanks for your participation.