About this survey

Research Participant Information Statement

Research Study Title: Learning to Make Choices with Limited Information

ACAP HREC Approval Number: 826010623

Researcher's Name: How Hong Sii

The primary aim of this study is to investigate how well people complete a simple online browser-based task while exposed to varying positive or negative feedback.

In total, the experimental session (including reading instructions, obtaining informed consent, and debriefing after the experiment completes) will take about 30 minutes to complete. The results will be available after November 2023. Please check the social media page for the research after this date for a release of the results: https://www.facebook.com/ACAPBehaviouralSciences

By submitting the survey at the end of the experiment, you are consenting to the use of the data you provided during the experiment and the survey.

The survey includes:

Demographic information (2 questions; your age, gender).
Information related to the way in which you learn and like to socialise.

A few reminders...

I do not collect your name or any other identifying information during the experiment. Therefore, you will not be able to be identified by any of your responses. Once you have completed the experiment, you can choose whether you wish your data to be included via submission of the survey. If you choose to allow your data to be used, once you submit your responses to the survey, I cannot remove them from the study. Remember that even though I have done everything that I can to protect the security of your responses, no computer transmission can be perfectly secure.

If you experience any distress while you are completing the experiment, please simply close your browser window to discontinue. And if you would like support either during or after completing and submitting your data, please consult one of the agencies in the services provided to you below and at the end of the experiment.

(1) What is the study about?

This study examines how people learn when multiple events of information are presented for a very short time. When we complete daily tasks, we find that some take more mental effort than others. For example, doing a mathematical task in your head demands more mental effort than brushing your teeth. Another thing that takes mental effort is in situations where we conduct concurrent tasks. For example, trying to learn and understand what the teacher is saying, taking notes, and talking to the student next to us. Each individual task is simple enough, but when we are trying to do two things at once, it requires a much greater mental effort to stay focused. What you feel when you are trying to do multiple mental tasks concurrently is an example of working under a high cognitive load. The present study has been designed to look at how people learn when they complete an online browser-based task where they need to make choices while placed under non-stressful situations that might demand greater mental effort.

(2) Who is carrying out the study?

This study is conducted by Mr. How Hong Sii as part of his Psychological Science (Honours) course at the Australian College of Applied Psychology (ACAP), working under the co-supervision of Dr. Christina Samios, associate professor in the discipline of Psychological Science at ACAP, and Dr. Jonas Chan, a lecturer in the discipline of Psychological Sciences from the University of Notre Dame who previously was affiliated to ACAP.

(3) What does the study involve?

The study involves an online experiment, where you will perform a judgment task between different symbols. Following this, you will complete a survey regarding your age, gender, and the way you learn and socialise.

(4) How long will the study take?

The study will take approximately 30 minutes of your time.

(5) Will I incur any costs by participating in this study?

There are no costs incurred by participating in this study, other than 30 minutes of your time.

If you are an ACAP first-year psychology student, you will receive course credit in recognition of the time contribution that you have made.

(6) What are the benefits of taking part?

This research project has no direct benefit for participants. However, first-year students at ACAP who choose to participate will receive a small amount of course credit in return for their time investment in the research. More generally, however, the information provided by the present research will be able to help us to understand appropriate forms of feedback for people in an intervention and how to better structure feedback to avoid stimulus over-selectivity in a learning environment. Results will also provide information on practices in removing the effects of stimulus over-selectivity in stimuli that have already been established.

(7) Are there any risks attached to participating in the study?

In the course of this research, we collect information on your gender and age. If you are a first-year Psychological Sciences student, we also collect your student identification number for the award of credit points. The student identification number is collected separately from your responses in the experiment and so you cannot be identified by any of your responses in the experiment. IP addresses collected during the research will be removed from the data file. Therefore, you cannot be identified from any of your responses given during the research. Fatigue is also a risk due to the tasks that you will need to complete during the research. Please consider the impact that engaging in this research may have.

If you decide to take part and experience distress during or after completion of the study, you can use the following strategies:

You can skip any questions that you do not feel comfortable in answering.
You can exit the study at any time by closing your browser window.
You can consult with any of the free services listed before or after the study.

(8) Can I tell other people about the study?

Yes! Please feel free to tell others about the study.

(9) Will I receive the results of the study?

Results will be made available after November 2023. Please check the social media page for the research after this date for a release of the results:

https://www.facebook.com/ACAPBehaviouralSciences

You can also check the ACAP student research page for a copy of the results:

https://www.acap.edu.au/applied-psychology/student-research-initiatives/

(10) Confidentiality and disclosure of information

Any personal information that is collected in the course of the research will be kept separately from your responses to the survey and the experiment deleted once you have been awarded credit points (if you are a first-year Psychology student at ACAP)
Any IP or location data attached to the responses will be deleted.
You will not be able to be identified from any of the responses that you provide to the research questions as only de-identified and collated responses are used in any publication that results from the research.
Your responses will be stored securely on a password-protected encrypted USB to which only members of the research team have access while research is being conducted, the responses analysed, and any reports and presentations prepared.
The research project will be completed by How Hong Sii at the end of December 2023. Once it is completed, Dr. Christina Samios, the Chief Investigator will forward the secure USB containing all project information and responses to the secretary of the ACAP Human Research Ethics Committee, who will then transfer the information on the USB to secure storage for a period of five years after which point it will be deleted so that it cannot be retrieved.
Although we do everything we can to protect the security of your responses, please be aware that no internet transmission is completely secure.

(11) Can I withdraw from the study?

Participation in this study is voluntary – you are not under any obligation to take part. If you begin the experiment and decide that you do not want to continue, simply close the browser window. Once you have completed the experiment; you can choose whether you wish your data to be included.

If you decide to submit your data, that choice indicates that you have consented to participate. At this point, we are unable to remove your responses, as there is no identifying information attached to them.

(12) How will my responses be used?

Your de-identified responses may be used by the researchers in the following ways:

For a thesis toward fulfillment of a degree.
For research papers.
For papers presented at scholarly conferences.
For checking by other researchers as required by the publication process of some scholarly journals.

(13) How can I obtain further information?

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the researchers at the social media page for this research:

https://www.facebook.com/ACAPBehaviouralSciences

You can also check the ACAP student research page for a copy of the results:

https://www.acap.edu.au/applied-psychology/student-research-initiatives/

(14) What can I do if I have a complaint or concern?

Any concerns or complaints about the conduct of this study should be directed to:

ACAP HREC Secretary

Email: hrec@navitas.com

Any complaint will be investigated promptly, and you will be informed of the outcome.

This information sheet is for you to keep.

Contact information

Information about this study:

Services Sheet

In the course of this study, information is being collected about issues that may have personal significance for some people. If you are troubled by any topic or issue about which information is being collected and you would like support or counselling, please ensure that you seek external support from a counsellor and/or a social service.

If you are an Australian resident the following free services may be able to help:

Service	Website	Contact
Aboriginal Counselling	https://www.aboriginalcounsellingservices.com.au/contact/	0410539905
Aboriginal Contact Line	https://www.victimsservices.justice.nsw.gov.au/Documents/pt12_atsi-contact-line.pdf	1800 019 123
Beyond Blue	https://online.beyondblue.org.au/email/#/send	1300 22 4636
Eheadspace	https://www.eheadspace.org.au/
Kids Helpline	https://kidshelpline.com.au/	1800 55 1800
Lifeline	https://www.lifeline.org.au/get-help/online-services/crisis-chat	13 11 14
Mental Health Line	https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/mentalhealth/Pages/contact-service.aspx	1800 011 511
Mission Australia Helpline	https://www.missionaustralia.com.au/	1300 886 999
Q Life	https://qlife.org.au/	1800 184 527
1 800 RESPECT	https://www.1800respect.org.au/contact-us/	1800 737 732
Together We Are Strong	http://togetherweare-strong.tumblr.com/helpline
Autism Connect	https://amaze.org.au	1300 308 699

If you would like to follow the research Facebook page, please follow this link:

https://www.facebook.com/ACAPBehaviouralSciences

You can also check the ACAP student research page for a copy of the results:

https://www.acap.edu.au/applied-psychology/student-research-initiatives/

If you would like more information about the study, please contact the researcher at:

264445@my.acap.edu.au

Contact email: 264445@my.acap.edu.au

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Confirm you want to do this survey

Consent Form

Research Study Title	Learning to Make Choices with Limited Information
ACAP HREC Approval Number	826010623
Researcher’s Name	How Hong Sii Ass. Prof. Christina Samios Dr. Jonas Chan
Researcher’s Relationship to ACAP	Students Employee Former employee

I agree to participate in the above stated research project. I have received, read, and kept a copy of the Research Partiicpant Information Statement. I have had the opportunity to ask questions about this research and I have received satisfactory answers. I understand the general purposes, risks and methods of this research. I agree that:

I am 18 years or older
I reside in Australia
I read and understand English well enough by my own assessment to complete a survey in English.
I do not have a personal relationship with any of the researchers.

I consent to participate in the study and the following has been explained to me:

the research may not be of direct benefit to me.
my participation is completely voluntary.
my right to withdraw from the study at any time without any implications to me.
the risks including any possible inconvenience, discomfort or harm as a consequence of my participation in the research project.
the steps that have been taken to minimise any possible risks.
what I am expected and required to do.
whom I should contact for any complaints with the research or the conduct of the research.
where I can access a copy of the research findings and reports.
security and confidentiality of my personal information.
publication of results from this study on the condition that my identify will not be revealed.

I understand the conditions of this study

Important data protection information

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