[Want to keep this near the top of our FB page, so Ill periodically re-post it] COVER LETTER & Oral recruitment script TITLE OF PROJECT: “Internet Addiction or Restorative ‘Magical Flight’?: The Meaning, Motivations, and Mental Health Implications of MMORPGs (Massively Multiuser Online Role-Playing Games)” NAME OF PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Dr. Jeffrey G. Snodgrass (Colorado State University faculty) NAME OF CO-INVESTIGATORS: Colorado State University: Faculty: Michael G. Lacy, David Most, Sammy Zahran; Graduate Students: Andrew Bagwell, Brendan Bombaci, Riley Ellis, Kelly Graves, Lahoma Howard, Benjamin Wintersteen; Undergraduate Students: Joshua Bassarear, Leigha Bohn, Madison Brandt, Brianna Broe, Robby Cookson, Dan Defouw, Nicholas Dewitt, Jessie Howard, Angela Huxel, Erik Linden, Melanie Matteliano, Brandi Megrew, Scott Morton, Jared Peltzman, Tony Phan, Michael Pichon, Evan Polzer, Colton Powell, Robert Ross, Cheryl Smarr-Foster, Marilyn (Emmy) Swisher, Timothy Taylor, Rory (Sascha)Thompson. Utah State University - Dr. Henri Jean-Francois Dengah II, PhD (faculty) UCLA: Scarlett Eisenhauer, Graduate Student University of Alabama - Gregory Batchelder, Graduate Student Johns Hopkins: Michelle Carras, Graduate Student CONTACT NAME AND PHONE NUMBER FOR QUESTIONS/PROBLEMS: Jeffrey Snodgrass, Colorado State University, Dept. of Anthropology, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1787, USA Email: [email protected], 970-491-5894 SPONSOR OF PROJECT: Department of Anthropology, Colorado State University, USA PURPOSE OF THE RESEARCH: In this research, we want to understand how online role-playing games such as Guild Wars 2 and World of Warcraft are emerging as important American subcultures, with equally important mental well-being implications. We are interested to understand the motivations of players of these games, hoping to grasp the contexts that make these games pleasurable and rewarding as opposed to stressful. In our observations, interviews, and surveys, we want to learn more about your personal experiences within these games—that is, why, where, when, and with whom you play, as well as what aspects of the game you find particularly pleasurable or potentially distressful. Much of this research is being conducted within an anthropological research and teaching laboratory context. Here, university students learn how to conduct social scientific research in online virtual worlds under the guidance of Dr. Snodgrass and other faculty. This explains the large number of co-investigators on this project. It is hoped that these students will apply the skills they learn in online environments—such as how to conduct observations and interviews, how to construct field surveys, analyze social scientific data, etc.—to other projects of interest to them. This is a scholarly project, and we will be presenting our results to other researchers. However, we believe that this study may provide a popular American audience with insights into these gaming worlds, and we plan to present our research in ways that might reach such an audience. We also hope that participating in this research project may provide you with insight into what this game means for you personally. We want to emphasize that participation in this study is entirely voluntary and at no monetary cost to you. At your approval, we may digitally voice record conversations we hold. Some of these interviews will be typed out, and may even be the focus of discussions with the other researchers involved with this project. However, it is important that you understand that participation is voluntary, and that you may terminate the interview at any time for any reason. Aliases will be assigned to ensure the privacy of all involved with my research. With regards to taped interviews, they will personally be secured, and will not be shared with anyone except for research purposes. We promise to do everything we can to ensure your confidentiality and privacy. We will more formally interview a smaller group of online gamers. This year (2014) these interviews will typically be broken into two parts, with the first introductory interview lasting about 30 minutes and the second about an hour and a half; however, the duration is based on your individual wishes. We will interview you wherever you feel most comfortable—whether this be online, via phone, in your home, or in a public place. There may be a possibility that some subject matters may cause psychological or emotional stress. However, as stated prior, the conditions and the duration of the dialogue are completely under your control. It is not possible to identify all potential risks in research procedures, but the researcher(s) have taken reasonable safeguards to minimize any known and potential, but unknown, risks. If, by chance, you are injured as a result of this research, the Colorado Governmental Immunity Act determines and may limit Colorado State Universitys legal responsibility if an injury happens because of this study. Claims against the University must be filed within 180 days of the injury. We also want to ensure that we accurately represent the voices and views of online game (MMORPG) players. As such, we have included personal contact information at the top of this document. Feel free to voice any questions, concerns, or comments regarding my research with you. Additionally, in a show of good faith, as well as a needed concern for accurate representation, a copy of any publications will be supplied upon request. Before you decide whether to accept this invitation to take part in the study, please ask any questions that might come to mind now. If you have questions about the study, you can contact the investigator, Jeffrey Snodgrass, via email ([email protected]) or at 970-491-5894. If you have any questions about your rights as a volunteer in this research, contact the CSU IRB at: [email protected]; 970-491-1553.
Posted on: Thu, 20 Nov 2014 01:19:50 +0000
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