Thank you for your interest in participating in this research. Please read the information below before consenting to participate.
This study will help us learn how and why individuals engage with certain types of viral trends on social media. You will be asked to answer a set of questions that covers the types of viral trends, how likely you are to interact with each type of trend, and why you engage in viral trends on social media. Most questions will be on a Likert scale where you are asked to rate the question or statement. There is a possibility that some of the questions and procedures may make you feel uncomfortable. There are no anticipated benefits for your participation in this research. There are no anticipated risks for your participation in this research.
You will be entered into a drawing to win a $20 gift card. The odds of winning with 100 entries out of 1,000 are 10%. The winner of the gift card will be notified via email at the end of March once all responses have been collected.
Dr. Cummins and Texas Tech University’s Institutional Review Board have reviewed this research project and think you can participate comfortably. However, you can skip parts of the research you are not comfortable with and stop at any time for any reason. You will keep all the benefits of participating even if you stop. Participating is your choice. Your decision to participate or stop participating will not impact your relationship with Texas Tech University.
We are asking for 15 minutes of your time. Your name will not be linked to any material in reports, publications, or presentations. No one other than the researchers associated with this project will have access to the raw data. All related documentation will be stored in the researcher’s password protected computer. Identifiers might be removed from the identifiable private information and that, after such removal, the information could be used for future research studies or distributed to another investigator for future research studies without additional informed consent from the subject or the legally authorized representative.
If you have any questions about this research, this study is being run by Dr. Cummins and Emily Warren from the Department of College of Media & Communication at Texas Tech University. If you have any questions, you can email Dr. Cummins at glenn.cummins@ttu.edu. Texas Tech University also has an Institutional Review Board that protects the rights of people who participate in research. You can contact them at 806-742-2064 or hrpp@ttu.edu. You can also visit their website at www.hrpp.ttu.edu.
This project has been approved by the Human Research Protection Program at Texas Tech University.