(1) Invitation paragraph
You are invited to take part in this research study.
Before you decide it is important for you to understand why the research is being done and what it will involve.
Please take time to read the following information carefully and discuss it with others if you wish.
Please ask if there is anything that is not clear or if you would like more information.
Take time to decide whether or not you wish to take part.
Thank you for reading this.
(2) What is the purpose of the study?
The purpose of this study is to explore how you would interpret and react after viewing advertisements from charities.
(3) Why have I been chosen?
You were invited to participate in this study so that you can share your thoughts about messages used in advertisements for charities, precisely those fighting against domestic violence.
You may participate in this study if you are currently residing in Mauritius and are above 18 years of age.
Given that domestic violence is a sensitive topic, we are targeting only those who have not been a victim or do not know a victim.
(4) Do I have to take part?
It is up to you to decide whether or not to take part. If you do decide to take part you will be given this information sheet to keep. If you decide to take part you are still free to withdraw at any time and without giving a reason.
If you do decide to withdraw from the study then please inform the researcher as soon as possible, and they will facilitate your withdrawal.
If, for any reason, you wish to withdraw your data please contact the researcher within a month of your participation.
After this date, it may not be possible to withdraw your individual data as the results may have already been published.
However, as all data are anonymised, your individual data will not be identifiable in any way.
(5) What will I have to do?
There will be specific instructions at each step of the study. As mentioned before, anonymous data will be collected, and we will appreciate that you share your honest thoughts so that we can capture accurate information that will be useful for charities in Mauritius.
Your participation in the study will last around 15mins and we will appreciate if you do not skip questions. In case you feel uncomfortable and do not wish to proceed, at any stages, kindly withdraw from the study and inform the researcher.
You will be expected to proceed as follows:
(a) Firstly, you must indicate that you have read the information sheet and provide your consent to proceed.
(b) As part of this research, you will be randomly divided into two groups through the online system. The first one will be exposed to an advertisement followed by a survey.
The second one will be directed to the survey without viewing any advertisement.
(c) After completing the experiment, you will be directed to a debriefing page about this research.
(d) Those who have completed the survey will be allowed to participate in the lucky draw to win a cash prize of Rs5000. If you want to participate in the lucky draw, you will be asked to provide your name and email address in the end. Your contact details will not be shared in the thesis but will be used for processing the lucky draw solely.
We are aiming to collect data from 400 participants residing in Mauritius. As we need to reach maximum audiences, there will be a second lucky draw to designate the best referral winner. To enter this category, you will need email the researcher evidence (i.e. a screenshot) that you have shared this research with a minimum of five people in your contact list. The respondents can be anyone above 18 years; residing in Mauritius/ or is a Mauritian; is not (and does not know) a victim of domestic violence. A cash prize of Rs2500 will be gifted to the winner of this category.
The lucky draws will happen at the end of August and winners will be notified via email.
Please note that in order to ensure quality assurance and equity this project may be selected for audit by a designated member of the committee.
This means that the designated member can request to see signed consent forms. However, if this is the case your signed consent form will only be accessed by the designated auditor or member of the audit team
(6) Will I have to provide any bodily samples (i.e. blood/saliva/urine)?
No
(7) What are the possible disadvantages and risks of taking part?
It is possible that you may come across disturbing images or messages advertisement. The researcher assures you that these are for illustrative purposes only and do not depict actual individuals that are affected by domestic violence.
Domestic violence is a sensitive topic which can affect anyone. It is possible that you will feel uncomfortable at some point of the experiment. If such is the case and you do not want to proceed, kindly withdraw and inform the researcher. There will not be any judgement against you.
Appropriate risk assessments for all procedures have been conducted and will be followed throughout the duration of the study
(8) What are the possible benefits of taking part?
We hope that participating in the study will help you. The information we get from this study may help us to understand how charities can improve the way they communicate with their target audience.
By sharing your honest opinions, the researcher will be able to recommend appropriate marketing strategies for charities.
(9) Data Protection and Confidentiality
Personal data is any data that can lead to the identification of a specific (living) person. It can be obviously identifiable data such as name or ID number but it can also be a combination of "innocent" data such as age, height/weight, wealth, job position, company, city, etc. that when combined can lead to the identification of a person.
Processing of personal data is any activity that is carried out with personal data (including collecting, analysing, recoding, etc).
Personal data (e.g., your name, email address, voice or any data that can identify you) WILL NOT be processed by this study and your confidentiality will be protected.”
(10) What will happen to the results of the research study?
The results of the research study will be used as part of a doctoral thesis. The results may also be presented at conferences or in journal articles.
However, the data will only be used by members of the research team and at no point will your personal information or data be revealed.
(11) Who has reviewed the study?
The study has received full ethical clearance from the Research ethics committee who reviewed the study. The committee is the Business School.
(12) Contact for further information
If you require further information, have any questions or would like to withdraw your data then please contact:
Denisha Seedoyal-Seereekissoon on d.seereekissoon@mdx.ac.mu
Kindly read through the following paragraph and select as appropriate.
I confirm that I have read and understood the information sheet for this study. I understand that my participation is voluntary, the data collected will not be identifiable and I am free to withdraw my consent without giving a reason and without penalty. Moreover, I understand that the data I provide may be used for analysis and subsequent publication and give my consent that this might occur.
Therefore, if you agree to take part in this study click on the button 'Yes I consent' else select 'No I do not consent'