Social Anxiety Research Project

Plain Language Statement
The University of Melbourne, Sociology, Faculty of Arts
Project: How do people attending a social anxiety meet-up group understand
and live with social anxiety?
Dr Sign Ravn (Responsible Researcher)
Tel: +61 383 440 399 Email: signe.ravn@unimelb.edu.au
Mr. Matthew Barca (Bachelor of Arts [Honours] student)
Email: mbarca@student.unimelb.edu.au
Introduction
Thank you for showing an interest in participating in this research project. The following few
pages will supply you with information about the research project. You can then decide if you
would like to take part in this research.
Please read the information carefully. If you have any questions, comments or general
thoughts, feel free to contact me (Matthew Barca) or Dr. Signe Ravn.
Please be aware that your participation in this research is completely voluntary. That is, you
do not have to take part in this research if you do not want to. If you do agree to take part in
the research and then decide you do not want to anymore, you can stop at any time.
What is this research about?
This research is about how people who experience social anxiety understand and make sense
of their situation. I am curious about your thoughts and ideas about what social anxiety
means to you. This research project is aiming to look at how social anxiety is currently being
spoken about from the views of those who have personally experienced it to see if there is a
common story or shared experience.
What will I be asked to do?
Should you agree to participate in this research, you will be having a confidential one-on-one
interview with me, Matthew Barca, that will be auto-recorded for practical purposes. The
interview is like an informal dialogue where I ask broad questions and you say what comes to
mind. No preparation is needed and there are no right or wrong answers. The interview
should take anywhere between forty-five minutes to an hour in length.
Ethics ID: 1748907.1 Plain Language Statement version 1.0: 07/03/17

What are the possible benefits?
By participating in this research, you are helping to give a greater voice and understanding to
individuals who have social anxiety. This research could help shape and change attitudes
towards social anxiety and clear up many of its misunderstandings. This research aims to give
more power and control to individuals who experience social anxiety to better their lives.
What are the possible risks?
This research understands that you, as a participant, may experience social anxiety and other
forms of distress. If you feel anxious, nervous or uncomfortable during the interview, you
have the option to pause or end the interview at any time you like. There will be regular
breaks during the interview to ensure that you feel safe and happy enough to continue. You
will also be given a list of support services after the interview that will help you if you feel
the need to have it. I will also be sure to contact you again after the interview to see how you
are going and if have any questions or comments.
Do I have to take part?
Participation in this research is completely voluntary. You are able to withdraw (quit) at any
time you like. You can skip any question you do not want to answer in the interview. If you
do take part in the research and then decide afterwards that you wish for your results not to be
used, this research will then not use them. You are free to contact myself or Dr. Signe Ravn at
any time if you have any questions about the results.
Will I hear about the results of this project?
When this research project is completed, it will be submitted as part of the Bachelor of Arts
(Honours) degree. You will also receive a copy of the thesis when it is completed, if
interested. The research findings may also be used for an academic publication and/or in an
online piece like The Conversation. This will always be in anonymized form.
What will happen to information about me?
The information that you provide as a participant will be completely confidential. Your
details including your name will be anonymized and nobody else other than myself and Dr.
Signe Ravn will have access to the interview recording and the write-up. The results will be
stored and secured in a password protected folder. Your personal information will not be used
in any future research, nor will it be shared with anyone else. The results of the research will
be stored on the servers at The University of Melbourne for 5 years before it is deleted.
Where can I get further information?
If you would like more information about the project, please contact the official researcher
Dr. Signe Ravn on 03 8344 0399 or signe.ravn@unimelb.edu.au and myself, Matthew Barca,
on 0426669516 or mbarca@student.unimelb.edu.au.
Ethics ID: 1748907.1 Plain Language Statement version 1.0: 07/03/17

Who can I contact if I have any concerns about the project?
This research project has been approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee of The
University of Melbourne. If you have any concerns or complaints about the conduct of this
research project, which you do not wish to discuss with the research team, you should contact
the Manager, Human Research Ethics, Office for Research Ethics and Integrity, University of
Melbourne, VIC 3010. Tel: +61 3 8344 2073 or Email: HumanEthicscomplaints@unimelb.edu.au.
All complaints will be treated confidentially. In any
correspondence please provide the name of the research team or the name or ethics ID
number of the research project.
Ethics ID: 1748907.1 Plain Language Statement version 1.0: 07/03/17