Survey of Women's Experiences

Here's a post I found on the GLBTSSS Feed:


My name is Sonya Bettendorf and I am a psychology graduate student at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, working under the supervision of Dr. Ann R. Fischer.

- I’m writing to you because of my commitment to improving the lives of women.

- I’m hoping you will help me reach out to women by completing the following survey, which is part of the final phase to my dissertation project: http://www.dbcdesigns.com/experiencesofwomen/

- Women across diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, sexual orientations, social classes, ages, and abilities are invited to participate.

- Participants have an opportunity to enter a drawing to win a $20 gift certificate.

- You are invited to forward this email to others who might be interested in participating in the survey.

- More details are outlined below:

My name is Sonya Bettendorf and I am a counseling psychology graduate student at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. I am currently working on my doctoral dissertation, which is chaired by Dr. Ann Fischer. I am writing to ask for your help by participating in a study that will help me develop a measure that assesses women’s experience related to social and cultural messages about women’s bodies.

Exploring this issue is important for several reasons. First, it may contribute to deeper and more meaningful understandings about women’s experiences. Second, it may help psychologists develop ways to best help people. Third, it might help psychologists focus on strengths that women already have in providing more effective services.

Participation in this study is voluntary and you may withdraw at any time. It will take you approximately 45 minutes to complete the survey. Your responses will remain confidential such that only the researchers will have access to your data. Identification codes, rather than names, will also be used to assure your anonymity. After full completion of the questionnaire, you will have the option of providing an email address to be entered into a drawing to win a $20 gift certificate to a Barnes & Noble book store. Only researchers will have access to the data file containing the email address, the email address will only be used for the purpose of the drawing, and it will be deleted following completion of the study.

If you would like to participate in the study, please visit the following website:

http://www.dbcdesigns.com/experiencesofwomen/

If you would like to have your name removed from this mailing list, please respond to this email at sonya.bettendorf@gmail.com and indicate that you opt-out from the messages. If you do not respond to this survey or return the opt-out message, you will be contacted again with this request 2 times during the next 4 weeks.

If you have any questions about this study, feel free to contact us at by email at sonya.bettendorf@gmail.com or arf12@siu.edu or by phone at (618) 453-3560.

This research study has been reviewed and approved by the Human Subjects Committee at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Questions concerning your rights as a participant in this research may be addressed to the Committee Chairperson, Office of Research Development and Administration, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Carbondale, IL 62901-4709. Phone (618) 453-4533. E-mail: siuhsc@siu.edu.

Thank you for taking the time to consider participating in this study. Your participation is valuable and will contribute to strength-based research and practice.

Sincerely,

Sonya Bettendorf, M.A.