Informed Consent Form
The City University of New York
Hunter College
Psychology Department
Title of Research Study:
Trauma-Informed Investigation of Transgender and Non-Binary Individuals (TGNBI) Experiences in HIV Stigma Research
Principal Investigator:
Sarit A. Golub, PhD, MPH
Professor, Department of Psychology, Hunter College
You are being invited to participate in a research study that is being conducted by Hunter College of the City of New York. The study aims to better understand your experiences participating in HIV and sexual health-related stigma research. Your participation in this research study is voluntary and you can decide to stop participation at any time.
You are being asked to participate in this research study because you have previously participated in HIV and sexual health-related stigma research. The purpose of this study is to develop a set of evidence-based guidelines and recommendations for conducting HIV and sexual health-related stigma research with transgender and non-binary individuals in a way that is person-centered, trauma-informed, and actively de-stigmatizing. Your participation in this study will help us identify specific research practices (e.g., recruitment materials, choice of specific survey questions, researcher behaviors) that may influence study participation and data collection, the potential for unintended harm due to emotional distress due to participating in such research, and specific strategies to reduce and address potentially distressful research experiences.
If you agree to participate, we will ask to complete a one-time interview with you of approximately an hour to an hour and a half. We will ask you about your previous experiences participating in HIV and sexual health-related stigma research.
Risks and Benefits
We do not anticipate any significant risks from participating in this study. If there are any interview questions that you do not wish to answer, you can skip those, and we can stop the interview at any time.
You may not receive any direct benefits from being a part of this study, but the information you share with us will be used to develop guidelines for conducting HIV and sexual health-related stigma research with transgender and non-binary individuals in a way that is person-centered, trauma-informed, and actively de-stigmatizing future by helping us implement sexual health programs.
Compensation
You will receive a $80 online gift card of your choice as compensation for participation in this study.
Audio Recording
We are asking you to allow us to audio record your interview, which is required in order for you to participate. The recordings will be used by the research team to ensure that we understand and report your responses accurately. Recordings will be identified by your assigned study ID only. All interviews will be transcribed by study staff or by a professional transcription company. In the event that any personally-identifiable information (e.g., your name) is revealed during the interview, this information will be redacted in the transcribed files. Transcriptions will be reviewed by trained members of the research team.
Confidentiality and Privacy
We plan to make every effort to keep your personal information confidential. However, we cannot promise total privacy. There are also certain legal limits to confidentiality. To help protect your confidentiality and privacy, all research materials will be kept in a locked file cabinet or on password protected computers and servers. Only members of the research team and those with relevant authorities will have access to these files. If the information is published or presented at a meeting, your name and personal information will not be shared.
The information we collect from you as part of this study may be used for future research.
Your participation in this research is voluntary. If you have any questions, or in the event of research-related injury or harm, you can contact Dr. Sarit Golub at 212.396.6304. If you have any questions about your rights as a research participant or if you would like to talk to someone other than the researchers, you can contact CUNY Research Compliance Administrator at 646-664-8918 or HRPP@cuny.edu.