Study 2/Laura's Laboratory Study

 

This study is being conducted by Laura Shellnutt (087993s@acadiau.ca), an honours student at Acadia University, and is only open to those who can physically come to our laboratory at Acadia University. We are interested in learning more about how individual computer-based tasks, versus computer-based tasks communicating with your romantic partner, influence measures of your physical and mental health, under differing emotional valence conditions. Both you and your romantic partner, of six months or more, must be willing to participate in order to be eligible for this study.

 

There are two parts to this study. The first part consists of a series of questionnaires administered online, that you and your partner will complete separately. Some questions will ask you about your overall well-being (physical and mental health). Other questions will ask you about your relationship: either how you tend to approach relationships in general, or how you think, feel, and act in your current dating relationship. Other questions will ask how you generally deal with negative or stressful events. This part of the study takes approximately 45-60 minutes to complete. These are the same background questionnaires as are completed for Study 1a (Kristina Hobson's diary study), so if you're taking part in both studies, you only have to do these questionnaires once. We do ask that you and your partner complete these questionnaires on your own, and do not talk about your answers until you have completed the study.

 

The second part of the study involves you and your romantic partner coming into the lab together. In the lab, you may be asked to participate in an individual task, such as stating your opinion on an assigned topic, and/or a dyadic task, such as chatting over MSN with your partner. These tasks may be positive, negative, or neutral in nature. We will monitor your blood pressure and heart rate at various times throughout this portion of the study, using a machine similar to those found at the doctor's office. Also, you will be asked to fill out questionnaires which assess how you feel (physically and mentally). This part of the study again takes approximately 45 minutes to complete.

 

You are eligible to take part in this study if you are currently in a heterosexual dating relationship of at least six months duration, and if you are 18 years of age or older. It is also a requirement that you have experience using an instant messaging program, such as MSN Instant Messenger. Your partner must be available to participate in this study. Therefore, we will ask you for your partner's contact information, and invite him or her to participate in the study. You will only be able to complete the lab portion if you both take part. Finally, note that this study is a continuation of a study conducted last year by Justin Milne. You should not take part in this particular study if you participated in Justin's study last year.

 

To thank you for your time, you can choose from the following options:

  1. For completing the background questionnaires, choose EITHER 50 prize draw points OR 1 bonus point towards your course grade in an eligible course at Acadia University (Psyc 1023, Psyc 2023, Kine 1413, Kine 2033; note, Psyc 2023 requires an additional assignment). (Note, the background questionnaires are the same as for Study 1, Kristina's diary study. Therefore, you only need do these background questionnaires once, and only receive the incentives once, if you participate in both studies.)

  2. For the laboratory portion, choose from the following: EITHER 50 prize draw points; OR 1 bonus point towards your course grade in one of the four eligible courses; OR $10 cash plus a $10 Empire Theatres gift certificate.

  3. Of course, you're free to mix and match your prizes across the two sections, as you choose (e.g., course bonus point for background questionnaires, but prize draw points for lab portion)..