Hello, my name is Erin Norton. I am a doctoral student at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. I am conducting a research study regarding the growth process that may occur while providing caregiver services.
I am conducting this research as a part of my studies in the clinical psychology department. After I have told you more about the project, you can decide whether or not you wish to participate. Your participation is completely voluntary and you can decide to stop participating at any time during this project without penalty.
Let me explain what you will be asked to do. In the study you will be asked a variety of questions regarding your experience as a caregiver. The purpose of this research is to better understand the elements of a caregiver that contribute to the growth that can occur from caring for an individual diagnosed with HIV. Participation in this study will take approximately 15 to 20 minutes.
There are no direct risks though the nature of the survey has sensitive topics regarding one’s growth process as it relates to caring for an individual with a health condition and, as a result topics may come up that induce certain emotions related to caregiving and the care recipient. Resources will be provided to participants for caregiver support groups and additional agencies to assist with coping with aspects of caregiving. You will not directly benefit from this study. However, I hope the information learned might benefit society in our understanding of how growth occurs among caregivers. Additionally, understanding aspects of caregivers that may contribute to individual growth will assist with a better understanding to growth following a stressful event as well as the specific aspects of caregiving that contribute to growth.
During the study I will ask questions regarding your assessment of self, which relate to self-esteem, optimism, sense of control, thought process, and growth experience as a caregiver. Additional information that will be collected will be your age, partner status, length of time caregiving, ethnic background, sexual orientation, socioeconomic information, and gender. This information will be used by myself and/or Mekel Harris, Ph.D., NCSP for the purpose of this study. Each participant profile will be assigned a random identification number and materials will be immediately placed in a locked filing cabinet in a locked office at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology – Los Angeles campus. No materials will be transported off The Chicago School of Professional Psychology – Los Angeles campus.
If you have any questions, please feel free to ask them now. If you have questions later, you may contact me at:
Erin Norton
Ean5819@ego.thechicagoschool.edu
or you can contact the research chair at:
Mekel Harris, Ph.D., NCSP
mekelharris@thechicagoschool.edu
213-615-7257
If you have any questions about your rights as a participant in this research, you can contact The Chicago School of Professional Psychology – Los Angeles Institutional Review Board at:
325 N Wells
Chicago, IL 60654
312.467.2343
irb@thechicagoschool.edu
