week 2

· Risks or discomforts from this research include fear from sharing personal experiences, or loss of privacy and/or breach of confidentiality if the data is lost or stolen.

· Your child will receive a direct learning benefit. He or she will gain more knowledge on the digital dilemma surrounding the use of social media and how it affects their religious behavior. They will also gain insights into how they can effectively navigate and consume values-aligned content on social media.

· Taking part in this research project is voluntary. Your child does not have to participate, and he/she can stop at any time.

Please take time to read this entire form and ask questions before deciding whether to allow your child to take part in this research project.

What is the study about and why are we doing it?

The purpose of the study is to examine the impact of social media on the religious behavior of church-going teenagers in St. Louis, MO, USA to equip parents, religious leaders, and teenagers themselves with strategies for navigating the digital world in a way that fosters both a strong faith and healthy online habits.

What will participants be asked to do in this study?

If you agree to allow your child to be in this study, I will ask him/her to do the following:

1. Participate in a 15-minute online survey that will be shared as a Google file document.

2. Participate in 45-minute focus group interviews in groups of 5-6 participants. The interviews will involve audio recordings of participants

How could participants or others benefit from this study?

The direct benefits participants should expect to receive from taking part in this study are simply learning experiences from the focus group interactions. They will learn how digital engagement might hinder or promote spiritual formation and the development of a robust and mature faith,

Benefits to society include increased knowledge of the use of social media among teenagers and how it impacts their religious behavior. At large, society will also experience teenagers who are intentional in the use of social media for their spiritual development.

What risks might participants experience from being in this study?

The expected risks from participating in this study are minimal, which means they are equal to the risks your child would encounter in everyday life. The risks involved in this study include the possibility of experiencing fear of sharing their personal experiences and the possibility of loss of privacy and/or breach of confidentiality if the data is lost or stolen. To reduce risk, I will ensure I am calm enough not to instill fear or potentially discontinue the interview if needed. To reduce the risk of Data loss, the collected data will be stored in a password-secured computer where only the researcher and faculty chair will be able to access.

I am a mandatory reporter. During this study, if I receive information about child abuse, child neglect, elder abuse, or intent to harm self or others, I will be required to report it to the appropriate authorities.

How will personal information be protected?

The records of this study will be kept private. Published reports will not include any information that will make it possible to identify a subject. Research records will be stored securely, and only the researcher will have access to the records.

· Participant responses will be anonymous and will be kept confidential by replacing names with pseudonyms/numbers.

· Confidentiality cannot be guaranteed in focus group settings. While discouraged, other members of the focus group may share what was discussed with people outside of the group.

· Data will be stored on a password-locked computer. The researcher and members of her doctoral committee will have access to the data. After three years, all electronic records will be deleted. Data will be retained indefinitely.

· Recordings will be stored on a password-locked computer/phone. The researcher and members of her doctoral committee will have access to the recordings. After three years, the recordings will be deleted/erased. Recordings will be retained indefinitely.

How will participants be compensated for being part of the study?

Participants will not be compensated for participating in this study.

Is study participation voluntary?

Participation in this study is voluntary. Your decision whether to allow your child to participate will not affect your or his/her current or future relations with Liberty University. If you decide to allow your child to participate, he/she is free to not answer any question or withdraw at any time without affecting those relationships.

What should be done if a participant wishes to withdraw from the study?

If you choose to withdraw your child from the study or your child chooses to withdraw, please have him/her exit the survey and close internet browser or inform the researcher that your child wishes to discontinue his/her participation, and your child should not submit the study materials. Your child’s responses will not be recorded or included in the study.

If you choose to withdraw your child from the study or your child chooses to withdraw, please contact the researcher at the email address/phone number included in the next paragraph. Should you choose to withdraw him/her, or should your child choose to withdraw, data collected from your child will be destroyed immediately and will not be included in this study. Focus group data will not be destroyed, but your child’s contributions to the focus group will not be included in the study if you choose to withdraw him/her or your child chooses to withdraw.

Whom do you contact if you have questions or concerns about the study?