PARTICIPANT INFORMATION
Project Title:
Experiencing Nature During Physical Activities
Please take time to read the following information carefully before you decide whether or not you wish to take part.
What is the study about?
The primary purpose of this project is to explore people’s experiences in natural settings. The survey was created with the intent of understanding how various physical activities (e.g., walking, hiking, trekking, gardening, etc.) are related to people’s views and experiences. The data gathered will be analysed by a team of scholars from several countries who are gathering similar data from residents of their countries with the aim of publishing the results.
Why have I been invited?
We are interested in exploring the views and experiences of members of the British public who enjoy spending time in nature.
What will I be asked to do if I take part?
The survey includes a number of questions related to physical activities like walking and hiking as well as questions about the experiences people may have while engaging in these activities. At the end of the survey are some demographic questions, like age, education, and income. There are no sensitive questions included in the survey. It is estimated that the survey will take you no longer than 20 minutes to complete. You will not be asked for any personally identifying information (e.g., name, address, email, etc.). As a result, your responses will be anonymous. Please do not include any identifying information.
NOTE: Due to the nature of this survey, once you complete a screen of questions, you will not be able to go back to modify your answers. Please do not try to use your browser's "back" button to return to the previous screen as it will log you out of the survey.
What are the possible benefits from taking part?
Participants may enjoy the opportunity to reflect on their experiences of engaging in physical activities in natural settings. The research team will benefit from a better understanding of how people interact with and are influenced by their time spent in nature and the environment.
Do I have to take part?
No. It’s completely up to you to decide whether or not you take part. Your participation is voluntary.
What if I change my mind?
If you change your mind, you are free to withdraw at any time during your participation in this study. Once the survey is submitted you will not be able to withdraw from the study as all data held is completely anonymous – this means that we will not be able to identify your responses and remove them from our records.
What are the possible disadvantages and risks of taking part?
There is limited risk to participants in this study. The one possible risk is that somehow personally identifying information is included in the survey responses and that someone sees it. Please do not include any such information. In examining the data, if the principal investigator finds any such information, it will be deleted from the dataset permanently.
Will my data be identifiable?
Your responses to the questions in this study will be anonymous. Participants will be assigned a random ID, and because there is no identifying information included in the survey, there will be no way to connect your identity to your answers.
How will we use the information you have shared with us and what will happen to the results of the research study?
The information you share in the survey (which will be completely anonymous) will be shared with the rest of the project team, which includes academics in Canada, the USA, Norway, Brazil and Argentina. This will allow us to explore similarities and differences in perceptions and experiences of nature internationally. We intend to present findings at academic conferences, write journal articles and possibly write a book.
How my data will be stored?
Your data will be stored in encrypted files (that is no-one other than me, the researcher will be able to access them) and on password-protected computers – this will also be the case when data is safely shared with other co-researchers on this project. In accordance with university guidelines, I will keep the data securely for a minimum of ten years. As a condition of funding, the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) require that data we collect is added to their archive to be preserved for future analysis. Data sent to SSHRC will be anonymous.
What if I have a question or concern?
If you have any queries or if you are unhappy with anything that happens concerning your participation in the study, please contact myself at c.hobson1@lancaster.ac.uk
If you have any concerns or complaints that you wish to discuss with a person who is not directly involved in the research, you can also contact:
Professor Robert Geyer (Head of PPR Department)
Email – r.geyer@lancaster.ac.uk
Address: Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, FASS Building, Lancaster University, Lancaster, United Kingdom, LA1 4YD
Contact no: +44 (0)1524 510851
This study has been reviewed and approved by the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and Lancaster Management School’s Research Ethics Committee.
Thank you for considering your participation in this project.