THIS STUDY IS NO LONGER RECRUITING

Se buscan participantes Hispanos que hablen bien el Inglés--Este estudio de investigación se conducirá solamente en Inglés. Para más información, póngase en contacto con el Laboratorio de Ansiedad y Psicoterapia de la Universidad de Washington en St. Louis en el (314) 935-8627. 

For more information about the study, or to speak with a staff member about possible participation in the study, please call APL at (314) 935-8627 or fill out the online submission form here: http://psychnet.wustl.edu/php/rodebaugh/


Focus on Relationships (FoR) Study

For more information about the study, or to speak with a staff member about possible participation in the study, please call APL at (314) 935-8627.

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What is the research study about? 

The overall purpose of this research is to explore the interpersonal relationships of different people. The research study involves a diagnostic interview, questionnaires, computer tasks, and interpersonal tasks.

Is this research study for payment? How much time does it take?

Yes. Basically, participants will receive at least $15 per hour of participation, for a minimum of $30. The exact number of hours you participate depends on a variety of factors.

If you are a responding to an ad, phone call, etc. to participate in the research study, you will be invited to participate in three visits. The first visit will take between 2 hours and 4 hours. We will also ask you to complete a questionnaire packet that may take up to 3 hours to complete. The other two visits will take between 2 and 3 hours. You will be invited to complete all three visits if you can bring a friend (to visit 2) and romantic partner (to visit 3). You can expect to receive between $30 and $195 for your participation. Most participants will receive less than the maximum.

 If you are participating as the friend or romantic partner of someone who has already started in the research study, you can expect to participate for two to three hours and receive $30-$45 for your participation.

Can I get research credit for this research study?

Sorry! We cannot offer research credit.

How much time does it take?

If you are a friend or romantic partner, one visit that lasts two to three hours is expected to be the extent of your participation. Otherwise, the amount of time required for your participation will be nine hours or less for most participants, across two visits. The maximum time of participation is 12 hours across three visits. You may not be invited to participate beyond the first visit; some participants may be invited to participate for longer than nine hours.

Who can participate?

If you are interested in the research study, please call us for a short phone interview that will help determine if this research study is right for you. If you are a friend or romantic partner of someone already in the research study, you qualify for participation as long as you are 18 years of age or older.

What is the diagnostic interview about?

The diagnostic interview assesses for a wide variety of psychological disorders. It is similar to the type of interview that many researchers and treatment providers would use to determine whether people have psychological disorders. If you participate with a friend or romantic partner, it is important to know that we will not inform your friend or romantic partner what your responses were or what the result of the interview was.

What are these questionnaires about?

Some of the questionnaires are ones that assess a variety of common experiences, such as personality characteristics and common types of distress. Other questionnaires focus on the quality of your life and interpersonal relationships.

What is the computer task about?

The computer task asks you to imagine playing a game with different kinds of people (e.g., stranger, friend), or asks you to actually play a similar game with your friend or romantic partner.

What is the interpersonal task about?

In the interpersonal tasks, we will ask you to discuss some problems with your friend and/or romantic partner. Each task is short (about ten minutes long). It will be up to you and your friend and/or romantic partner to choose the topic of discussion.

Are there risks to this research study?

Yes. Some participants may experience transient distress during the diagnostic interview because of questions about psychological symptoms. Mild boredom or fatigue is a more common response to this aspect of the research study. Similarly, completing self report forms may lead to mild distress, boredom, or fatigue. Participants will receive feedback about their diagnostic status. Occasionally, these results may be surprising or distressing. However, these types of responses are rare, and the interviewer is trained to help you deal with any distress you feel. Finally, the diagnostic interview and interpersonal tasks will be audio or video recorded. The purpose of this recording is to ensure the interview is performed reliably and allow analysis of the interpersonal tasks. Until the recording is destroyed, there is a minimal risk of your identity being revealed. Similarly, as long as you allow us to retain your contact information, there is a minimal risk of your identity being revealed. We will do everything we can to avoid such breaches of confidentiality (please see below).

What will you do to minimize the risks?

You can end the research study at any time, and the interviewer will be trained to help you if you experience distress. We will do everything we can to protect your privacy.  The information you provide will be identified by an assigned participant identification number only. Your contact information will be listed under a separate number. Only the principal investigator and his graduate research assistants will be able to connect your participant number to your contact information. Audio and video recordings associated with this research study will be kept in a locked cabinet in a locked laboratory and labeled only with your participant number. There are some limits to confidentiality that you will be given further information about if you are interested in participating.

Are there benefits to participating in this research study?

Yes, there are several benefits to you inherent in this research. If you complete the diagnostic interview, which assesses a variety of psychological disorders, we can provide you with a report about any disorders you meet criteria for. If you request it, we can provide this report to your health care providers. We can also provide a list of mental health resources in the community. If you complete the diagnostic assessment, we will be able to highlight the resources that may be of particular interest given your diagnoses (if any).

Where can I find out the results of the research study?

This research study is expected to be ongoing for several years, at least. We will post findings from this research study here as they become available. The earliest this is likely to happen is January of 2014.

For more information about the study, or to speak with a staff member about possible participation in the study, please call APL at (314) 935-8627 or fill out the online submission form below.

 http://psychnet.wustl.edu/php/rodebaugh/