STUDY AIMS AND PURPOSES
The Children, Intimate Relationships, Conflictual Life Events, and Stress (CIRCLES) Study is designed to help us better understand how past stressful experiences and current stress impact men’s and women’s experiences of family conflict. We will use the information we learn to develop new programs aimed to improve the lives of caregivers and children under stress.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
If you and your cohabitating partner reside in Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Washington or Westmoreland County in Pennsylvania, are both willing to participate, are 18 years of age or older, care for a preschool age child (3-5 years), and meet certain income criteria, then you are eligible!
HOW PARTICIPANTS CONTRIBUTE
Interested Participants will be asked to complete 3 online surveys and 6 telephone interviews.
First, you will complete an initial online survey. The survey is broken into (2) approximately one hour portions for which you will be paid $25 for each portion. You may complete both portions at the same time or you may take a break between the two. The online survey will ask about your demographic characteristics, your family relationships, how you feel and behave in general and during family conflicts, your stressful life experiences, your ability to recognize facial expressions of emotions, and your evaluations of your children’s abilities. Once you and your partner complete the first portion of the survey, you may schedule your first phone interview.
Next, you and your partner will participate in 6 telephone interviews. The telephone interviews are conducted by highly trained and experienced clinician researchers. The interviewers will ask you about the context and content of various conflicts that occurred over the past month with you and your partner and you, your partner and your child(ren). You will be compensated $50 for each call you complete. The phone calls will occur every 4-6 weeks.
Once you complete your sixth telephone interview, you will take a final online survey. You will be paid $25 for completing the final survey and another $25 for completing all portions of the study.
Next, you and your partner will participate in 6 telephone interviews. The telephone interviews are conducted by highly trained and experienced clinician researchers. The interviewers will ask you about the context and content of various conflicts that occurred over the past month with you and your partner and you, your partner and your child(ren). You will be compensated $50 for each call you complete. The phone calls will occur every 4-6 weeks.
Once you complete your sixth telephone interview, you will take a final online survey. You will be paid $25 for completing the final survey and another $25 for completing all portions of the study.
PARTICIPANT CONFIDENTIALITY
All responses are completely confidential. To help participants freely discuss sensitive family issues, we will not be able to identify participants during or after the telephone interviews, and your survey responses will not be tied to your identity.
PARTICIPANT COMPENSATION
Earn up to $800 per couple. Each participant will have the opportunity to earn $25 for each of 3 surveys, $50 for each of 6 phone interviews and a $25 bonus for completing all 3 surveys and all 6 phone calls. This totals $400 per individual.
