Permissions to post granted by administrators Tank and Whitney! Thank you!
Hi there!
Thank you SO much for reading my post!
My name is Robyn Moran and I am currently working on my Doctoral Dissertation in Clinical Psychology.
I was wondering if I might have a few minutes to help me with my research.
You could even win a $50 VISA Gift Card in the process!
https://alliant.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_2nkj15OhiMoe7E8
I am studying the influence of confession on perceived well being in Protestant Christian and Athiest and Agnostic groups, and was wondering if I could ask you to spare 15-30 minutes to answer an anonymous online survey.
If you choose, you may enter your name separately at the conclusion of the survey to be entered into a raffle to WIN one of two $50 VISA gift cards!
I am only enrolling 130 participants, so the odds of winning are fairly good!
Also, you will be given an ADDITIONAL raffle entry for every person who says that you referred them to the study! (Please, refer away!)
I am seeking Athiests and Christians who are 18 or older, living in the USA and willing to answer this 1 time only questionnaire.
This is a private research study and ALL of your information will be kept confidential
(Note, you do not have to be BORN in the USA to qualify, you need only live in the USA or have lived in the USA ;D)
If you have a few moments, would you please consider taking my survey?
The link can be found at: https://alliant.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_2nkj15OhiMoe7E8
Also, would you "Like" the Facebook Fanpage so that you can follow the research study and encourage your friends to take it, too!
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Confession-Research/158980824191000?sk=wall
Please spread the word to your family, friends and community and you will receive extra raffle entries!
I have a limited time to collect my data and would like to include as many people as possible.
Thank you so much for considering advancing the sciences!!
Spreading Smiles,
Robyn Moran
EDIT: Highlighted the entry criteria "18 or older, living in the USA" - Tank
Hrm, looks like I'll have to do it when I get home.
I want to do it, but I'm not 18 :(
Quote from: Budhorse4 on January 25, 2012, 07:56:05 PM
I want to do it, but I'm not 18 :(
The lazy youth these days... just hurry up and age already.
Quote from: Davin on January 25, 2012, 07:57:09 PM
Quote from: Budhorse4 on January 25, 2012, 07:56:05 PM
I want to do it, but I'm not 18 :(
The lazy youth these days... just hurry up and age already.
If I could, do you think I would need my mom take me everywhere? ;D
Quote from: Budhorse4 on January 25, 2012, 07:56:05 PM
I want to do it, but I'm not 18 :(
Sorry, Budhorse4. It isn't at all that I think that people under the age of 18 are unqualified to participate in the study, its just that people under 18 are considered a protected population and the American Psychological Association Ethical Standards for Research with Human Participants puts up a lot of barriers when trying to include this population.
The same goes for individuals who do not reside in the USA.
:(
I am sorry that you can't participate, though, because I would love to have your perspective included.
Budhorse4, you can always send the link to any of your 18+ friends or family and have them put your name down as the person who referred them and you will be entered into the raffle just for referring!
(1 entry per person that you refer).
Good luck to you, and thanks so much for reading my post!
Quote from: happyhappa on January 25, 2012, 08:17:44 PM
Quote from: Budhorse4 on January 25, 2012, 07:56:05 PM
I want to do it, but I'm not 18 :(
Sorry, Budhorse4. It isn't at all that I think that people under the age of 18 are unqualified to participate in the study, its just that people under 18 are considered a protected population and the American Psychological Association Ethical Standards for Research with Human Participants puts up a lot of barriers when trying to include this population.
The same goes for individuals who do not reside in the USA.
:(
I am sorry that you can't participate, though, because I would love to have your perspective included.
Budhorse4, you can always send the link to any of your 18+ friends or family and have them put your name down as the person who referred them and you will be entered into the raffle just for referring!
(1 entry per person that you refer).
Good luck to you, and thanks so much for reading my post!
I completely understand. ;D I did send this to a few of my friends so hopefully they'll fill it out. I don't think I could do it anyway, considering that I want born in the USA. :D
happyhappa, i changed the red to purple so it wouldn't look like one of the mods bled all over your post...we tend to use red when we are putting our mod hats on.
Thank you, Whitney!
It looks much better in purple!
:)
I appreciate you and Tank and your help in launching this study!
Quote from: Whitney on January 25, 2012, 09:02:40 PM
happyhappa, i changed the red to purple so it wouldn't look like one of the mods bled all over your post...we tend to use red when we are putting our mod hats on.
Yes, but you also changed the one comment that was
supposed to be in red to purple :P
Quote from: Asmodean on January 25, 2012, 09:44:11 PM
Quote from: Whitney on January 25, 2012, 09:02:40 PM
happyhappa, i changed the red to purple so it wouldn't look like one of the mods bled all over your post...we tend to use red when we are putting our mod hats on.
Yes, but you also changed the one comment that was supposed to be in red to purple :P
ya...oops..oh well.
I would participate, but, alas, I am from the Great White North.
I'm sure I'll participate, and I appreciate you doing this survey. I will ask to be exempted from winning the gift card as I prefer to keep monetary or influence gifts out of research studies.
I hope you get plenty of participants.
I did it. I wish there was a way I could use my $50 giftcard to buy you all a beer (if I won the giftcard.)
I totally understand, McQ- thank you for being willing to participate in my study!
:)
I wish that there were more people like you--- research studies would be a whole lot less expensive!
:)
Robyn, I'd take the study but unfortunately, I live in America's Hat, AKA Canada. ;)
I will, however, pass on the study to a few American friends who would be interested in it, I think. All the best with the work you're doing!
Thank you so much, Amicale!
I wish that the American Psychological Association Ethical Standards for Research with Human Participants didn't make it so difficult to collect international data!
If you refer friends, be sure to have them list you as the person who referred them and you will receive a raffle entry for each person who completes the survey!
Thank you for your support!
Everyone on this forum is so helpful!
I appreciate you!
Quote from: happyhappa on January 26, 2012, 12:19:51 AM
Thank you so much, Amicale!
I wish that the American Psychological Association Ethical Standards for Research with Human Participants didn't make it so difficult to collect international data!
If you refer friends, be sure to have them list you as the person who referred them and you will receive a raffle entry for each person who completes the survey!
Thank you for your support!
Everyone on this forum is so helpful!
I appreciate you!
Actually, like McQ, I also prefer to keep monetary or gift incentives out of research studies :) so I'm happy to refer friends and let them be eligible for any possible prizes if they'd like to be, but I'll respectfully ask that I be exempted from any award, thanks!
I agree with you, Robyn, that the APA does sometimes make it difficult to collect 'international' data, for sure. It would at least be easier if both Canada and the USA extended their criteria to "North American" data. When it comes to many things, beliefs and customs included, our countries have far more similarities than differences.
Quote from: happyhappa on January 26, 2012, 12:19:51 AM
I wish that the American Psychological Association Ethical Standards for Research with Human Participants didn't make it so difficult to collect international data!
I suppose they want to know about the way things are in the US.
Once they have that they could compare it to international results which could be interesting.
Anyway good luck, another non American here.
I used to do 'Customer focus groups' in my marketing days (yes I've seen the 'kill yourself' comedian) There were some people who came for the fee and said nothing, not a single word. We had to pay the fraudulaint little tossers anyway. >:(
Gift card, or not, I'm curious to see how this pans out... so I did the survey. Interesting!
Quote from: Tank on January 26, 2012, 08:29:45 AM
I used to do 'Customer focus groups' in my marketing days (yes I've seen the 'kill yourself' comedian) There were some people who came for the fee and said nothing, not a single word. We had to pay the fraudulaint little tossers anyway. >:(
Well, that's lame!
Wow, I've barely begun the survey and I'm already stuck. I have no clue how often I express regret for doing something wrong. Partly because I'm living a rather insular life right now, so have little to no opportunity to harm anyone. How can one confess if one hasn't done anything wrong? Scratches head and slinks off to think ... hmmm, maybe I'm overthinking this. I'm reminded of questions like "when did you stop beating your wife?"
Quote from: Traveler on January 26, 2012, 03:28:42 PM
Wow, I've barely begun the survey and I'm already stuck. I have no clue how often I express regret for doing something wrong. Partly because I'm living a rather insular life right now, so have little to no opportunity to harm anyone. How can one confess if one hasn't done anything wrong? Scratches head and slinks off to think ... hmmm, maybe I'm overthinking this. I'm reminded of questions like "when did you stop beating your wife?"
Haha, I got stuck on that same part. I wasn't sure how to answer "How often do you confess to God or to another person?" I was stuck on the word "confess" - it just seems like such an..I don't know....formal process. I always try to own it when I know that I'm in the wrong, but does saying "I know I was wrong and I'm sorry" to the person I wronged really count as a "confession"?
I felt very much the same way about the first page of the survey. I suspect it would be easier to answer for someone who confesses (specifically to god(s) in a ritualistic or somewhat regular manner.
To just guess how often I do it was extremely difficult, probably impossible. I don't know how accurate my answers were on that particular part of the survey. I know that I am quick to admit when I am wrong, and I have no issues with apologizing... but I also try to live my life in a way that I don't often have to do so.
Thank you, everyone, for your responses and willingness to participate in this study.
I really appreciate it!
The word "confess" is one that, honestly, put a bad taste in my mouth, at first, as well.
It triggers in me images of real ritualistic religion based mandates, so I understand how it is similar for other people, too.
I tried to adjust the question to state that confession, in this case, is being defined as admitting that you are doing something wrong or regretful.
This is a follow up study to another study that used ONLY a Christian population (now, thats a bit one sided, don't ya think?!) and so I had to try to keep the measures and verbiage similar.
With the help of this forum, alone, I am almost half way through the amount of participants needed for this study.
Happy Atheist Forum is THE best.
Please, continue passing this along to your family and friends.
I am unspeakably grateful!
When you've completed your research I for one would like to have a discussion on the results.
Quote from: Tank on January 26, 2012, 05:03:41 PM
When you've completed your research I for one would like to have a discussion on the results.
I agree. I am genuinely curious to know what you'll find.
I have to say how impressive and supportive HAF members have been.
Some members of other forums have been really putting me through the wringer!
I am hoping to have the results of this study done and ready for publishing by May.
Typically, results are posted within 6 months of the start of data collection (around July).
I'm trying to expedite the process because, like you, I'm too excited to wait that long!
:)
I would LOVE to have a discussion surrounding the findings with all of you.
In fact, as an option, the final oral defense will be podcasted and outside members are welcome to Skype in and ask questions, just like the rest of my committee.
I know that can be tricky because there are people form all different time zones, but nonetheless, with the permission of the admins and moderators, I would love to start a thread on HAF to discuss findings when the research is complete.
Thank you ALL for your continued support!
You guys are the best!
Quote from: happyhappa on January 27, 2012, 03:08:53 AM
In fact, as an option, the final oral defense will be podcasted and outside members are welcome to Skype in and ask questions, just like the rest of my committee.
That's an interesting idea...have they done that before? I can only imagine what kind of strange outside questions you might get if you gave the skype info out across a lot of forums. Or maybe that's just because I'm use to people like Egor being around (search his name in some of our threads and you'll see what I mean).
In the survey...under education....there is a gap between 4 year BS degree and Graduate Degree. Some of us have 5 year BS degrees in professional programs :) I've noticed that gap is common but it makes it look like the person had less education (or more if they chose to go up instead of down in their selection).
That's right- I totally didn't think of that.
Thanks for bringing that to my attention- I'll make a note of it!
Quote from: happyhappa on January 25, 2012, 07:30:49 PM
You could even win a $50 VISA Gift Card in the process!
I am seeking Athiests and Christians who are 18 or older, living in the USA
Dang it!
$50 US was sounding pretty sweet.
Quote from: happyhappa on January 27, 2012, 03:54:37 AM
That's right- I totally didn't think of that.
There are very few surveys that cover 5 year degrees. I only notice because it forces me to pick a lower education slot as I think going up is not as accurate since I could also go for a masters in architecture if I wanted to teach or something. I'm not even sure how many 5 year programs are out there... "professional degree" seems to be how I've seen it categorized in the past. Thanks for noting it.
I think it is so funny that you bring this up because my fiancé is an Architect... so I really should have thought about those 5 year degrees!
By the way, as a side note altogether- Architects don't get paid NEARLY enough for all of the schooling that they have to do- and the crazy amount of licensing exams!
You are totally right- more surveys should include the 5 year degree option!
Just finished it. I didn't care about the gift card, so I did not submit my info for it. Good luck
I'm in the middle of taking it, and I found a question I have a problem with.
"I do not admit my wrongdoings to God as often as I should." The way it is worded bothers me and I feel there should be an N/A option for this question.
By answering never, it seems to imply I ask god for forgiveness "as often as I should."
Quote from: ThinkAnarchy on January 30, 2012, 01:52:40 AM
I'm in the middle of taking it, and I found a question I have a problem with.
"I do not admit my wrongdoings to God as often as I should." The way it is worded bothers me and I feel there should be an N/A option for this question.
By answering never, it seems to imply I ask god for forgiveness "as often as I should."
ya, that was an odd one to answer. I forgot how I interpreted it when providing my answers. It probably should be thrown out for anyone that says they are an atheist. But I kinda remember some wording that stated god is also intended to mean "authority" or whatever and so you'd answer that way...in which case it could be answered by an atheist.
Whitney is 100% right, but I am sorry that it was a confusing statement.
The use of "God" does refer to any authority figure.
:)
Thank you guys for your support and participating in this study!
I am so overwhelmed and thankful for each of you!