Introduction

Corinne Dalelio and Kristen Fleckenstein, faculty members at Coastal Carolina University, would like to invite you to take part in a research study about perceptions and online communication behaviors. You are free to talk with someone you trust about your participation in this research and may take time to reflect on whether you wish to participate or not. If you have any questions, please let us know and we can answer them now or at any time during the study.

Purpose

The purpose of this research study is to understand more the relationship between people's online communication habits and their personal perceptions. 

Procedures

During this research study, you will be asked to complete a brief survey in which you indicate the level to which you agree or disagree with a series of statements, as well as some additional questions about your online usage and demographic information. We would also like to take a look at your recent posts and comments on Reddit. If you are willing to give us permission to do so, please provide us with your Reddit username as well. 

Duration 

For this research study, your participation will be required for the approximately 10-15 minutes that it will take for you to complete the survey.

Rights

You do not have to agree to participate in this research study. If you do choose to participate, you may choose not to at any time once the study begins. There is no penalty for not participating or withdrawing from the study at any time. 

Risks

During this research study, no risks or discomforts are anticipated.

Benefits

By agreeing to participate in this research study, it is not expected that you would benefit directly. This research, however, may help gain a better understanding of others within your community or society as a whole as a result of finding an answer to the research questions.

Confidentiality

Unless you provide consent to the contrary, the confidentiality of your participation in this research study, your responses or any individual results will be maintained by the PI and all members of the research team.

Sharing the Results 

As the Principal Investigator on this research study, I plan to share the results of this study by presenting them at a research conference and publishing them in an academic journal as yet to be determined. 

Contacts

If you have any questions about this research study, please feel free to contact me at 843-349-2963 or cdalelio@coastal.edu. 

The Institutional Review Board (IRB) under the Office of Sponsored Programs and Research Services is responsible for the oversight of all human subject research conducted at Coastal Carolina University. If you have any questions about your rights as a research participant before, during or after the research study, you may contact this office by calling (843) 349-2978 or emailing OSPRS@coastal.edu.

This research study has been approved by the IRB on September 3, 2024. This approval will expire on September 2, 2025 unless the IRB renews the approval prior to this date.