See notes on page 2 about what other attachments you may need to include. Example interview questions? Copies of questionnaires? Visual stimuli? Permission or ethical
clearance from another institution or organisation?)
SCANNED COPY OF CURRENT DBS CERTIFICATE (If one is required. See notes on page 3)
PARTICIPANT INVITATION LETTER
You are being invited to participate in a research study. Before you agree it is important that you understand what your participation would involve. Please take time to read the following information carefully.
Who am I?
I am a postgraduatestudent in the School of Psychology at the University of East London and am studying for a Doctorate in Counselling Psychology. As part of my studies I am conducting the research you are being invited to participate in.
What is the research?
I am conducting research into men’s experiences of domestic violence and abuse when the perpetrator is a woman. I hope to gather information from men about their experiences of being domestic
violence survivors and what it is like for them when considering seeking help and support. The aim of this is to give abused men a voice so that their presence can be increased in an area where they are underrepresented, and to offer further insight into how mental health practitioners can best serve their needs.
My research has been approved by the School of Psychology Research Ethics Committee. This means that my research follows the standard of research ethics set by the British Psychological Society. Why have you been asked to participate?
You have been invited to participate in my research as someone who fits the kind of people I am looking for to help me explore my research topic. I am looking to involve people who:
ü Identify as male
ü Are aged 18 years or older
ü Have experienced domestic violence (such as physical, sexual, emotional, psychological, financial, or controlling) from a female romantic partner
ü Can communicate in English
I emphasise that I am not looking for ‘experts’ on the topic I am studying. You will not be judged or personally analysed in any way and you will be treated with respect.
You are free to decide whether or not to participate and should not feel coerced. What will your participation involve?
If you agree to participate you will be asked to take part in a private one-to-one audio-recorded interview with me. Being interviewed might feel a little like having an informal chat with a purpose. Our interview will last around an hour to an hour and a half, and will take place at a time and location that suits you.
During our interview we will talk about your experiences with domestic violence and what kinds of processes you went through when seeking (or not seeking) help.
Before our interview starts you will be given the opportunity to ask me questions if you are unclear about anything, and at the end of the interview you can ask more questions or bring up any concerns you might have.
I will not be able to pay you for participating in my research but your participation would be very valuable in helping to develop knowledge and understanding of how mental health practitioners can better serve your needs.
Your taking part will be safe and confidential
Your privacy and safety will be respected at all times. I will do my best to ensure you feel
comfortable throughout the proceedings and make sure that you feel listened to and respected. You do not have to answer all of the questions if you don’t want to and can withdraw your participation at any time.
What will happen to the information that you provide?
I will need to audio-record our interview so that I can turn it into the data for the research. I will do my utmost to ensure that you cannot be personally identified by the information you give me and that your identity is kept private throughout the research process. In the final piece of research you will only be referred to by a pseudonym of your choosing and all information that could possibly reveal your identity (such as names and locations) will be altered to protect your privacy.
The material you give me will be destroyed after I have finished using it in the research, which will be in the year 2023. While I am conducting the research, your information will be carefully stored on a password-encoded computer that only I have access to.
What if you want to withdraw?
You are free to withdraw from the research study without explanation, disadvantage or consequence. You can withdraw your material after the interview as long as you do so before the data analysis begins, which will be February 2018.
Contact Details
If you would like further information about my research or have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me at the email address below.
Riva
If you have any questions or concerns about how the research has been conducted please contact my research supervisor Dr. Lisa Fellin. School of Psychology, University of East London, Water Lane,
London E15 4LZ, Email: [email protected]
or
Chair of the School of Psychology Research Ethics Sub-committee: Dr Mary Spiller, School of Psychology, University of East London, Water Lane, London E15 4LZ.
UNIVERSITY OF EAST LONDON Consent to participate in a research study
I have the read the information sheet relating to the above research study and have been given a copy to keep. The nature and purposes of the research have been explained to me, and I have had the opportunity to discuss the details and ask questions about this information. I understand what is being proposed and the procedures in which I will be involved have been explained to me.
I understand that my involvement in this study, and particular data from this research, will remain strictly confidential. Only the researcher(s) involved in the study will have access to identifying data. It has been explained to me what will happen once the research study has been completed.
I hereby freely and fully consent to participate in the study which has been fully explained to me. Having given this consent I understand that I have the right to withdraw from the study at any time without disadvantage to myself and without being obliged to give any reason. I also understand that should I withdraw, the researcher reserves the right to use my anonymous data after analysis of the data has begun, which will be in February 2018.
Participant’s Name (BLOCK CAPITALS)
………. Participant’s Signature
……….. Researcher’s Name (BLOCK CAPITALS)
……….. Researcher’s Signature
……… Date: ………..…….
Interview Schedule Can you tell me a little about yourself?
Can you tell me about your experiences of being abused by your partner? (who, what, where, when, why, etc.)
How did you cope? Did you seek help?
If not, what led to the decision to not seek help? If yes, what led to the decision to seek help?
Can you tell me about your experience of seeking help? (who, where, when, why, etc.) What was helpful in that situation?
What was unhelpful?
Impressions of the resources that are available for men in this position?
What would you like people to be aware of when working with men who are abused by women?