Adolescent Sleep Problems and Technology Use (GU Ref.: 2022/575)
PARTICIPANT INFORMATION SHEET
Who is conducting the research?
Chief Investigator Professor Caroline Donovan | Student Researcher Shelly Weaver |
School of Applied Psychology Griffith University Phone: 07 3735 3401 Email: c.donovan@griffith.edu.au | School of Applied Psychology Griffith University Phone: 0404 543 280 Email: shelly.weaver@griffithuni.edu.au |
Why is the research being conducted?
Researchers from Griffith University are investigating adolescent and young adult sleep problems. Sleep problems are highly prevalent, unlikely to remit without treatment, and can lead to a range of deleterious outcomes. Sleep problems have been found to be detrimental to cognitive, emotional, and physiological functioning, and increase the risk for future development of mental health and academic problems. This study aims to better understand the relationship between technology use and sleep problems in adolescents. It is hoped that outcomes from this study will provide new directions for improving the sleep habits of young Australians. This study will also form part of the research thesis of Shelly Weaver, who is a Griffith University Doctor of Philosophy in Clinical Psychology student.
Participant eligibility
To participate in this study you must be aged between 12 and 20 years and have played a video game of any form at least once within the last month. You must provide consent to participate. If you are under 18 years of age, you must also have parental consent to participate. Individuals with and without a sleep problem are encouraged to participate.
What is involved?
If you agree to participate in this study, you will be asked to complete an online survey battery assessing the following: sleep problems, technology use, pre-sleep arousal, fear of missing out, and flow. The questionnaire will also include a range of demographic questions. It is expected the survey will take 15-20 minutes to complete.
What you receive for participating in the research
Upon completion of the survey battery, participants may choose to enter a random prize draw to win one of five $50 Teen gift cards. Prize draw conditions are provided below.
The expected benefits of the research
Contribution to this study will allow for a greater understanding of adolescent and young adult sleep habits and how technology use may impact sleep. This project will contribute new knowledge on the mechanisms through which technology use may impact sleep.
Risks to you
There are no expected risks to participating in this research aside from a time imposition. The questionnaires involved in this study have been used extensively in research with adolescents and adults. If you become distressed by any component of the questionnaire you are able to immediately discontinue your participation. Should you require support, please consider contacting the following services which are free and available 24/7 in Australia.
Lifeline Australia (Ph: 13 11 14) – counselling services for anyone at any time.
Beyond Blue (Ph: 1300 224 636) – information and referral for depression and anxiety.
Emergency Services (Ph: 000) – for immediate medical and safety concerns.
Your confidentiality
Your privacy is very important to us. All data collected for this research will be stored securely and confidentially in locked filing cabinets and will only be accessed by the researchers of this study. Electronic data will be stored on a password protected Griffith University research storage platform for a period of five years, after which all data will be deleted. Any subsequent publications arising from this research will report group statistics, with no individual participant being identifiable. If you have any questions about your privacy, you can view Griffith University’s Privacy Plan at http://www.griffith.edu.au/privacy-plan or call (07) 3735 4375.
Your participation is voluntary
Participation in this study is completely voluntary. Please note that you can withdraw from the study before submitting the survey. Once the survey has been submitted you will not be able to withdraw as the research team is unable to identify individual surveys. Your decision to not participate in this research will in no way impact your academic standing, or relationship with Griffith University, its staff, the research team, or any professionals from whom you received details of this research.
Questions and further information
If you have any questions or require further information about this study, please feel free to contact the research team using the following contact details: Phone: (07) 3735 3401. Email: c.donovan@griffith.edu.au
Results of the study
The research results will be reported in an academic thesis, and may also be disseminated via journal articles and/or conference presentations. If you would like to receive a summary of the results after the study has been completed, please contact the research team using the following contact details: Phone: (07) 3735 3401. Email: c.donovan@griffith.edu.au
The ethical conduct of this research
Griffith University conducts research in accordance with the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research. If you have any concerns or complaints about the ethical conduct of this research project you should contact the Manager, Research Ethics on 3735 4375 or research-ethics@griffith.edu.au.
Prize draw conditions:
- The prize draw is being run by Shelly Weaver and Professor Caroline Donovan to encourage participation in our study “Adolescent Sleep Problems and Technology Use”.
- By electing to participate, you accept these terms and conditions as governing the prize draw. Instructions on how to enter the prize draw and details advertising the survey form part of the conditions. Any personal information you provide to us in the course of entering the prize draw will be dealt with by us in accordance with our privacy policy (published at: http://www.griffith.edu.au/aboutgriffith/governance/planspublications/griffith-universityprivacy-plan).
- 5 prizes will be awarded in the prize draw, each prize being a Teen gift cards and being worth $50. Should the advertised prize become unavailable as a result of circumstances beyond our control, we are free (at our sole discretion) to substitute a cash prize equivalent to the value of the prize advertised.
- Entry is free (other than the cost of accessing the website, which is your responsibility). Entry is open between 01/08/2022 and 31/12/2022. Entries received after the closing date will not be accepted.
- To enter the prize draw, you must: (a) be between the ages of 12 and 25 years, be English-speaking, and live in Australia, (b) provide your email address at the end of the study, and (c) provide a valid postal address if you are contacted via email as a winner at the time of the draw.
- You may not enter the prize draw if you are: i) a member of the research team, ii) employed by the research team; iii) an immediate family member (i.e., a spouse-partner, child or sibling) of someone identified at 1 or 2 above.
- You may only submit one entry in the prize draw.
- All survey and other materials provided by you become our property. No responsibility is taken for late, lost or misdirected surveys or entries.
- Following the closing date, the prize winners will be selected randomly from valid entries received.
- Subject to system malfunction, the draw will occur on 09/01/2023. If the systems supporting the draw are not functioning as they should when the draw is due, the draw will be held as soon as possible once the systems become functional again. Prize winners do not need to be present at the time of the draw.
- Prize winner names will not be published.
- The relevant prize will be sent to each prize winner at the postal address requested upon email following the draw. If an address is not supplied, the entry will be treated in accordance with clause 14. The majority of prizes will be mailed within two weeks of the draw.
- The right to a prize is not transferable or assignable to another person.
- If any prize winner cannot be contacted within one (1) month of the draw, then that person’s right to the prize is forfeited and the prize will be treated as an unclaimed prize.
- Only one redraw of unclaimed prizes will take place, and other existing prizes are not affected. The redraw prize winner(s) will be randomly selected from remaining valid entries and notified within one (1) month of the redraw. If the redraw prize winner(s) cannot be contacted within one (1) months of the redraw, then we may determine that the relevant prize(s) will not be awarded.
- Prizes cannot be substituted for another prize at the election of the prize-winner.
- We are not liable for any loss, expense, damage or injury sustained by any entrant in connection with this prize draw, the prize or redemption of the prize, except for any liability which cannot be excluded by law (in which case, that liability is limited to the minimum allowable by law).
- We may suspend the promotion if we determine that the integrity or administration of the promotion has been adversely affected due to circumstances beyond its control. We may disqualify any individual who tampers with the entry process.