Thank you for your interest in this experiment. Please read over the following information regarding your participation. If you agree to participate in the study, click the proceed button at the bottom of your screen.

Project Title: Social Comparison, Mood and Motivation

What is the study about?
We invite you to participate in a research project about motivation to view members of the same sex. We will also be measuring the impact of mood and tendency to compare and/or compete with others.

Do I have to take Part?
This information sheet has been written to help you decide if you would like to take part.   It is up to you, and you alone, whether or not to take part.   If you do decide to take part you will be free to withdraw at any time without providing a reason.  

What would I be required to do?
The experiment should take 15-20 minutes to complete (depending on connection speeds). First, we will ask you a series of questions about your age, gender, sexual orientation and hormonal contraceptive use (women only). Next, you will be given a series of questionnaires that are designed to measure your self-esteem, mood and tendencies to engage in social comparison/competition. You are free to omit answering any questions you are uncomfortable with. Following the questionnaires, the experiment will begin. During the first part of the experiment you will be shown a series of faces on a computer screen. Each image will automatically be removed from the screen after 4 seconds. However, you may increase or decrease this viewing time for each image, as you’d like, by pressing a set of keys. (Please note that the task will last for a set period of time (3 minutes) – decreasing the viewing time of each image will not make the task finish quicker, you’ll just see more faces!).  Lastly, you will be asked to rate a series of faces for attractiveness.

Will my participation be Anonymous and Confidential? Yes! Only the researcher(s) and supervisor(s) will have access to the data which will be kept strictly confidential. All responses will be stored anonymously using a randomly assigned 9-digit subject number.

 

This research proposal has been scrutinised and been granted Ethical Approval through the University ethical approval process. Please read through the consent statement below: Participation in this research project is completely voluntary, and your consent is required before you can participate in this research.  Your identity will be not be revealed to anyone whatsoever, and all reference to you will be of a generic nature.

I declare that:

  1. I have read this form and I fully understand the nature of the study and my participation in it.

  2. I understand that I can withdraw at any time without needing to say why.

  3. I understand that the data I provide will be treated in a confidential manner and the answers I give will be coded to ensure anonymity.

  4. I understand that should I feel uncomfortable answering questions, I can leave them blank.

  5. I have not been coerced into participating in the project and willingly yield personal information to the researchers, without recourse.

  6. Where applicable, the researchers may use the data for publishing and presenting purposes, in a scientific context.

  7. I consent to be a participant in the aspects of the study agreed to above.

If you are MALE, please click here.

 

If you are FEMALE, please click here.