Gaming and Depression
                                                                     Consent Form

You are being asked to participate in a project conducted through Maryville University by Samantha Tarkington, Maryville Senior Seminar student, and Professor Jessica Nguyen Herridge. This project is being conducted in partial fulfillment of the course requirements for Senior Seminar at Maryville University. Student candidates are learning to collect and assess data, so the results of the study may not be valid. However, the results, pending instructor discretion, may be published or presented beyond the class. This course is in compliance with the Maryville University Institutional Review Board.
 
The purpose of this research is to understand the correlation between health symptoms and gaming behaviors. If you agree to participate you will be asked to fill out a survey asking questions about your gameplay habits, and a self-report of depressive/health symptoms. The research will take 15 minutes to complete. This project is not expected to involve risks of harm any greater than those ordinarily encountered in daily life. The idea behind the study is to find out whether there is a correlation between gaming habits and depression symptoms.
 
All of your responses will be anonymous and will be kept confidential. In addition, no individual data from this project will be shared. The group results of data from this study will be shared with members of the Senior Seminar course and the social science faculty of the College of Arts and Sciences. Pending instructor discretion, data may also be published or presented beyond the class.
 
Your participation is voluntary and there is no penalty for your refusal to participate. You need not answer all questions and you are free to withdraw your consent and to discontinue your participation at any time. If you are a student, withdrawal will not affect your grade. In the event of your early withdrawal, any information that you have provided up to that time will be destroyed.

If you have any questions regarding this study, or if any problems arise, you may contact the researcher, starkington1@live.maryville.edu, or the supervising faculty member, Jessica Nguyen Herridge at jnguyen@maryville.edu. You may also ask questions, state concerns regarding your rights as a research subject, or express any feelings of pressure to participate by contacting: Dr. Robert Bertolino, Chair of the Institutional Review Board at Maryville University, (314) 529-9659.
 
Maryville University investigators and their colleagues who are conducting research recognize the importance of your contribution to the research studies, which are designed to improve educational learning environments. Maryville University investigators and their staff will make every effort to minimize, control, and treat any complication that may arise as a result of this research.

Maryville University recognizes its federally mandated responsibility to ensure that research be conducted in an ethical and scholarly manner, respecting the rights and welfare of all the human participants. Any research misconduct, including but not limited to fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism in proposing, performing, and reviewing research, or in reporting research results; should be reported to Dr. Robin Grebing, the Research Integrity Officer at (314)-529-6622.

Advancing to the survey will signify your implied consent to participate. You are agreeing to participate in this study based on the information presented to you. You may choose to withdraw without prejudice or penalty. Please print a copy of this form which includes the name and phone number of the researcher and the IRB at Maryville University, should you have any questions.
 
The protocol number on this consent form indicates that the project has been reviewed and approved by the Maryville University Institutional Review Board.
 
Maryville University Institutional Review Board
Protocol Number: 24FA SOSC 485-10_ST
Initiation Date: 10/11/2024
Termination Date: 10/11/2025