Drexel University
Consent to Take Part
In a Research Study

1. Title of research study: Exploring the intersection of photo sharing practices and depression

2. Researchers: Andrea Forte, Nazanin Andalibi

3. Why you are being invited to take part in a research study
We invite you to take part in a research study because you are an adult who has used Instagram to communicate about mental health and wellness issues, and specifically depression. We believe we can learn important things from you about how images are used to communicate about depression specifically and mental health in general. 

4. What you should know about this research study

• We are going to talk to you about you general Instagram use, general social media use, and your use of Instagram as it relates to share content about depression.
• Whether or not you take part is up to you.
• You can choose not to take part.
• You can agree to take part now and later change your mind.
• Whatever you decide it will not be held against you.
• Feel free to ask all the questions you want before you decide.

5. Who can you talk to?
If you have questions, concerns, or complaints, or think the research has hurt you, talk to the research team at na477@drexel.edu / 917-755-8086 (Nazanin Andalibi) or aforte@drexel.edu / 404-242-3813 (Andrea Forte).
This research has been reviewed and approved by an Institutional Review Board. You may talk to them at (215) 255-7857 or email HRPP@drexel.edu for any of the following reasons:

• Your questions, concerns, or complaints are not being answered by the research team.
• You cannot reach the research team.
• You want to talk to someone besides the research team.
• You have questions about your rights as a research subject.
• You want to get information or provide input about this research.

6. Why are we doing this research?
We want to better understand how images help people communicate about mental health issues.

7. How long will the study last?
We expect that you will be in this research study for a 60-90 minute interview.

8. How many people will be studied?
We expect to interview a total of up to 30 people.

9. What happens if you say, 'yes, I want to be in this research?'

• You will be asked to read through the consent form and ask questions or share concerns, if any.
• We will set a time that is convenient for you to do the interview.
• We will decide on the means of doing the interview. This could be online or on Drexel’s campus.
• We will talk to you about your photo sharing practices for 60-90 minutes.
• We will voice-record the interview. We might also use some of your images posted on Instagram in our data analysis and report if you give us permission. We might quote you in our research paper as well. However, if we do use any of your sentences or posts in our paper, we will remove identifying information. No pictures of you will be taken. We are serious about your privacy and we want you to be sure that no identifiable information will be used in our report.
• We will provide you with resources about depression as part of our study protocol.
• We will reimburse you with $20 for your help and time. If we meet face to face, you will receive cash and will be asked to sign a receipt provided by the College of Computing and Informatics. If we talk online, we will send you an Amazon gift card in the amount of $20 and you will be asked to email us the confirmation number or sign a receipt.

10. What happens if you do not want to be in this research?
You may decide not to take part in the research and it will not be held against you.

11. What happens if you say yes, but change your mind later?
You agree to take part in the research now and stop at any time it will not be held against you. If you decide to leave the research, contact the researcher so that the researcher can make sure the interview has not caused you problems.

12. Do you have to pay for anything in this study?
There is no cost to you for participating in this study. 

13. Will being in this study help you any way?
We cannot promise any benefits to you or others from your taking part in this research. However, possible benefits include finding reflecting on your experience with sharing content on Instagram of personal interest.

14. Is there any way being in this study could be bad for you?
We do not anticipate any risks associated with this research.

15. What happens to the information we collect?
Efforts will be made to limit your personal information, including all research study records, to people who have a need to review this information. Organizations that may inspect and copy your information include the IRB, which oversees ethical research, and other representatives of this organization. If we discover evidence of abuse, neglect, or self-harm, these cases will be disclosed to appropriate authorities.

Personally identifiable information will be stored in password-protected files while the data   analysis is in progress for the purpose of consent and payment. All data will be destroyed after 7 years. Only approved research personnel on this protocol will have access to the files. In any publications that result from this work, we will not use your name or any other identifying information. We might quote you or show the content of some of your posts, but without your name, ID, or any other identifiable information.

16. What else do you need to know?

• This research is being funded by the College of Computing and Informatics at Drexel University.
  
• This research study is being done by Drexel University. 
  
• If you agree to take part in this research study, we will pay you $20 for your time and effort.
  
• You are required to provide us with your email address for processing the participation payment and confirming your consent.

Participants will be informed before the interview where any resulting publication can be found on the PI’s website (http://www.andreaforte.net/).