Attitudes towards wildlife conservation

Project Title: Attitudes towards wildlife conservation in NSW, Australia: how past, present and predicted situations influence NSW residents attitudes towards the protection of Australian wildlife species and habitats.

 

Project Summary: You are invited to participate in a research study being conducted by Megan Fabian, Master of Research Student, under the Supervision of Associate Professor Julie Old and Doctor Amelia Cook, all in the School of Science and Health.

 

The study proposes to investigate your attitudes and behaviour towards wildlife conservation (the protection of Australian wildlife species and habitats) in NSW, Australia. You will be asked to complete an online questionnaire. The aim of this questionnaire is to determine how your experiences, past and present, influence your attitudes and behaviour towards wildlife conservation.

 

How is the study being paid for?

The project is being funded by Western Sydney University – School of Science and Health.

 

What will I be asked to do?

You will be asked to participate in an online questionnaire. To be eligible to participate in the questionnaire you must:

• Be an Australian citizen

• Be 18 years of age or older

• Reside in NSW, Australia

This questionnaire consists of five sections. Each section will contain a mixture of closed- and open-ended questions which are predominantly conservation based. The questionnaire will allow the researcher to examine participant’s sociodemographic characteristics, attitudes held towards wildlife conservation, how past experiences influence attitudes held, if there is a relationship between attitudes held and behaviour or future intentions towards wildlife conservation issues. There are no right or wrong answers. Please provide an honest response. By completing this questionnaire you give consent for your answers to be used for analysis by the researcher. Your involvement will remain confidential and the information you provide will not be used in any way that reveals your identity. If you have any further questions please contact the researcher.

 

How much of my time will I need to give?

This questionnaire will take approximately 20 minutes to complete, dependent on the extent of your individual response.

 

What specific benefits will I receive for participating?

You will go in a draw for a chance to win one of three $40 gift vouchers to thankyou for your time. If you win you will be contacted via email. The winners will be drawn by chance by an independent party.   

 

Will the study involve any discomfort for me? If so, what will you do to rectify it?

This study should not impose any discomfort to you, however if it should throughout any stage of the process you are able to withdraw from the study at any time without giving a reason.

 

How do you intend to publish the results?

Please be assured that only the researchers will have access to the raw data you provide.
The findings of the research will be published in Human dimensions of Wildlife, Wildlife Conservation or another related journal. *Please note that the minimum retention period for data collection is five years.

 

Can I withdraw from the study?

Participation is entirely voluntary and you are not obliged to be involved. If you do participate, you can withdraw at any time without giving a reason.

If you do choose to withdraw, any information that you have supplied could still be utilised, however if you would prefer the data not to be used for research purposes please inform the researcher and the data already provided will be deleted and/or disposed of immediately.

 

Can I tell other people about the study?

Yes, you can tell other people about the study by providing them with the website link where they will be able to access the more information prior to deciding if they would like to participate in the study. Please remember the other person needs to meet the eligibility criteria:

• Be an Australian citizen

• Be 18 years of age or older

• Reside in NSW, Australia

Alternatively, the person can contact the researcher to discuss their participation in the research project.

 

Data storage

There are a number of government initiatives in place to centrally store research data and to make it available for further research. For more information, see http://www.ands.org.au/ and http://www.rdsi.uq.edu.au/about. Regardless of whether the information you supply or about you is stored centrally or not, it will be stored securely and it will be de-identified before it is made to available to any other researcher.

 

What if I require further information?

Please contact the researcher Megan Fabian via email: M.Fabian@westernsydney.edu.au should you wish to discuss the research further before deciding whether or not to participate.

 

What if I have a complaint?

This study has been approved by the Western Sydney University Human Research Ethics Committee. The approval reference is H11766.

 

If you have any complaints or reservations about the ethical conduct of this research, you may contact the Ethics Committee through the Office of Research Services on Tel +61 2 4736 0229, Fax +61 2 4736 0905 or email: humanethics@uws.edu.au.

Any issues you raise will be treated in confidence and investigated fully, and you will be informed of the outcome.

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If you agree with these requirements please click on the 'Questionnaire Link' tab to gain access to the online questionnaire.

 

If you do not agree with these requirements you are free to exit the website and no further action is required.