Character Spaced Study

Appendix A: Consent Form

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Thank you for your participation in our ResearchNow online survey. Your opinions are very important to us. Your personal information will not be linked to your answers or used in any report.

You are one of about 4,000 people in the United States who is being asked to take part in this voluntary research survey. The survey is examining how people view health information online. During the survey, you will be shown online health information and you will be asked your opinions about it. The survey will take approximately 20 minutes.

This survey is being conducted by Fors Marsh Group on behalf of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). If you have questions about this survey, please contact Dr. Sarah Evans, Principal Investigator, by phone at 571-858-3757 or by email at pi@forsmarshgroup.com.

Possible Risks or Discomforts

We do not expect that any of the survey questions will make you uncomfortable or upset you; however, if they do, you can refuse to answer any question. If you skip a question, you can continue with the rest of the survey.

Benefits

Your responses are very important because they will help researchers understand how people view online health information. There is no direct benefit to you for your participation.

Incentive

You will receive points to your account as a token of appreciation for your time in completing this survey.

Rights as a Participant

This study is completely voluntary. You can stop at any time. You also do not have to answer any questions that you do not want to. You will receive your points for your time when you complete the survey even if you choose not to answer some questions.

If you have any questions or complaints about your rights as a research subject, please contact the Research Involving Human Subjects Committee at RIHSC@fda.hhs.gov.

Privacy and Confidentiality

Some demographic information, like your age, gender, and race/ethnicity, will be gathered, but no personal information, like your name, will be collected. Your identity will not be linked to your responses. We will be very careful to only let people working on the study see the responses you provide, which will not be linked back to any personal information that can be used to identify you. Your personal information will be kept private to the extent allowed by law.