You are invited to participate in a research study on audience responses to the film The Hobbit. Before you give your consent to participate, it is important that you read the following information (or have it read to you), to be sure you understand what you will be asked to do.
Information about this study:
This study asks you to share your impressions, feelings and concerns relating to Peter Jackson’s film, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. The research is being conducted by academic researchers at the University of Waikato (New Zealand) and Ryerson University (Canada). In the first part of this survey, you will read, sort, and rank-order a set of statements relating to The Hobbit. Once this is done, you will be asked to respond to some additional questions about yourself. This survey has been designed to minimize the amount of time required by you, and typically takes half an hour. You can complete the survey at a private location of your choice, such as at home, or in any other place where you can answer the questions online.
Your participation in this study may involve additional physical and psychological effort from you, in order to focus on the topic, rank the statements, and answer the interview questions. You may find some statements unclear, or not relevant to you, or you may feel uncomfortable answering some of the personal questions at the end. If this is the case, you are free to choose not to answer any questions and may terminate the survey at any time, with no consequences or effect on your relationship with the University of Waikato, Ryerson University, or any other individual or organisation that facilitated in any way your participation in this study.
Participation in this study is voluntary. If you decided to participate, you are still free to decline to answer any particular questions, withdraw your consent and to end your participation at any time without penalty. The data you provide will remain anonymous and you are not required to give any identifying information. All data will remain confidential and will be secured at the Digital Value Lab at Ryerson University and destroyed after five years. The information obtained from this study will be used in academic publications that will be available online and in print. Data will be presented in summary form and no one individual will be identified.
There are no costs and/or compensations associated with your participation. We sincerely appreciate your co-operation and your willingness to participate in this research. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to call or email:
Carolyn Michelle, Ph.D.
Societies and Cultures
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences,
Te Kura Kete Aronui
The University of Waikato, Te Whare Wananga o Waikato
Private Bag 3105
Hamilton, New Zealand
07 856 2889 ext. 6828
email: caro@waikato.ac.nz
Charles H. Davis, Ph.D.
Edward S. Rogers Sr. Research Chair in Media Management and Entrepreneurship
RTA School of Media and Ted Rogers School of Management
Ryerson University, Toronto, Canada
Phone: 1 (416) 979-5000 ext. 7866
Fax: 1 (416) 979-5285
email: c5davis@ryerson.ca
website: http://www.ryerson.ca/~c5davis
If you have questions regarding your rights as a human subject and participant in this study, you may contact the Ryerson University Research Ethics Board for information: Toni Fletcher, Research Ethics Coordinator Office of the Vice President, Research and Innovation Ryerson University, 350 Victoria Street, Toronto, Canada M5B 2K3 Phone: 1 (416) 979-5000 Ext. 7112, Fax: 1 (416) 979-5336 Email: toni.fletcher@ryerson.ca
By checking the box below, you confirm that you have read the information in this agreement and have had a chance to ask any questions you have about the study. You also confirm that you agree to be in the study and have been told that you can change your mind and withdraw your consent to participate at any time. You have been given a copy of this agreement (you can download it here: Consent Agreement). You have been told that by signing the Consent Agreement you are not giving up any of your legal rights.