Religious Discrimination and Race-Related Stress among North American Sikhs ~ A Research Survey

Religious Discrimination and Race-Related Stress
Among North American Sikhs

University of Massachusetts - Boston
Department of Counseling and School Psychology
100 Morrissey Blvd, Boston, MA 02125-3393
University of Massachusetts Boston

Consent Form For: Religious Discrimination and Race-Related Stress among North American Sikhs

You are asked to take part in a research project that examines the experiences of race-related stress (i.e., the experiences and impact of religious discrimination and race-related stress) among Sikhs. The researcher, Dr. Kiran S. K. Arora, is an Assistant Professor in the Family Therapy Program at UMASS Boston.

The purpose of this research project is to examine how experiences of religious discrimination and race-related stress may impact the relationships, mental health, and overall well-being of Sikhs residing in North America. If you agree to participate in this study, you will be asked to complete a set of questionnaires online. Completion of the questionnaires should take about 30-45 minutes and will consist of rating questions and open-response questions. The questions will ask about what experiences with religious discrimination and race-related stress you may have had, how these experiences may have impacted you and your relationships, if you have experienced certain thoughts or feelings, and how these experiences and topics are communicated about in your family. Neither your name nor any other identifying information will be shared. Only the researcher and her research assistants will see your responses. Responses that you give may be reproduced in whole or in part for use in presentations or in written products that result from this study. Your name or any other identifying information will not be used in presentations or in written products resulting from this study. Immediately following completion of the questionnaire, you will be given the opportunity to withdraw your participation in this study or your consent to have your responses saved for use in the study.

There is minimal risk associated with participation in this study. The primary risk associated with this study is the emergence of negative or distressful feelings in completing the research materials. You may contact Dr. Arora to speak with her to discuss any distress or other issues related to study participation. You may also contact the toll free helpline UMEED at 1-855-878-6333 to discuss any distress. Your participation in this research is confidential. That is, the information gathered for this project will not be published or presented in a way that would allow anyone to identify you. Information collected and downloaded from the internet will be de-identified. Your confidentiality will be protected to the maximum extent allowable by law.

You will benefit from participating in the study because you will engage in an academic opportunity that allows you to reflect on your experiences and relationships that may provide some insight into your life. Further, you will be adding to research focusing on Sikhs and their families throughout North America. There is a dearth of literature that focuses on Sikhs and their families in relation to religious discrimination and race-related stress. You will also be assisting family therapists and other mental health clinicians who are working with Sikhs. Your knowledge will help them target their work so that it better reflects Sikhs' experiences. The university's urban mission requires we focus on serving diverse clients to the best of our abilities; this research study contributes to the university reaching that goal.

The decision whether or not to take part in this research study is voluntary. If you do decide to take part in this study, you may terminate participation at any time without consequence. If you wish to terminate participation, you should contact Dr. Arora. Furthermore, you may refuse to respond to specific questions in the questionnaire that you feel uncomfortable answering and you can still be part of the study. You have the right to ask questions about this research before you sign this form and at any time during the study. You can contact Dr. Arora by phone at (617) 287-7280, email at [email protected], or in writing at Wheatley Hall-2/168, University of Massachusetts Boston, 100 Morrissey Blvd, MA 02125-3393. If you have any questions or concerns about your rights as a research participant, please contact Kristen Kenny, a representative of the Institutional Review Board (IRB) at the University of Massachusetts, Boston, which oversees research involving human participants. She can be reached at (617) 287-5374 or [email protected]. The Institutional Review Board may be also reached at the following address: IRB, Quinn Administration Building-2-080, University of Massachusetts Boston, 100 Morrissey Boulevard, Boston, MA 02125-3393. You can also contact the Board by telephone or e-mail at (617) 287-5370 or [email protected].

BY CLICKING “CONTINUE”, YOU ARE AGREEING THAT YOU HAVE READ THE INFORMATION ABOVE, YOUR QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN ANSWERED, YOU UNDERSTAND THE INFORMATION, AND YOU CONSENT TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS STUDY. YOU ALSO CERTIFY THAT YOU ARE 18 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER.