Please read the following material that explains this research study. Pressing the “Agree” button below will indicate that you have been informed about the study and that you want to participate. We want you to understand what you are being asked to do and what risks and benefits—if any—are associated with the study. This should help you decide whether or not you want to participate in the study.
You are being asked to take part in a research project conducted by Tal Yarkoni, Ph.D., Project Director, a researcher in the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of Colorado at Boulder, UCB 345, Boulder, CO 80309. Tal Yarkoni can be reached at 303-492-4299 or tal.yarkoni@colorado.edu.
The main purpose of this research is to investigate the relation between people’s personalities and the content and style of their online writing.
If you agree to take part in this study, you will be asked to fill out several questionnaires asking about your demographic background, personality, and blog and/or twitter page if you have one. You are welcome to participate even if you do not have a blog or twitter page. At the end of the experiment, you will be given the option of viewing some information about your personality scores.
Participating in this online study should take between 10 minutes and 35 minutes of your time depending on which personality questionnaire you choose to answer (you will be given a choice between short and long).
As part of the study, you will be asked questions about your personality, background, and blog or twitter page (if you have one). The questions you will answer are not considered sensitive in nature; however, all questions are optional and you are welcome to skip any question that you prefer not to answer for any reason.
There are no known risks associated with participating in this study other than the possibility of boredom or fatigue.
There are no direct benefits to participating in this study with the exception that you may optionally choose to receive information about your personality at the conclusion of the study, and the knowledge that your participation will help scientists gain a better understanding of the way people’s personalities influence the way they express themselves verbally.
You have the right to withdraw your consent or stop participating at any time without penalty. You have the right to refuse to answer any question(s) or refuse to participate in any procedure for any reason.
In addition to the research to which you are consenting under this study, we are requesting your permission to save any writing samples you agree to provide us with access to (e.g., your blog if you have one). These samples could potentially be linked back to you if you disclose your identity in your writing. Writing samples may be kept for up to 10 years and information about you may be shared with other researchers at other institutions who will keep the information confidential. Any future research use of your data will have to be approved by an ethics committee prior to use.