Someone to talk to

Information for participants

How did you get my name?
The research team got your name as one of the people who took part in the 2007 British Social Attitudes survey. During the survey you gave your consent to be re-contacted in connection with taking part in a follow up qualitative interview.

What will it involve?
You will be asked to take part in one interview initially with the possibility of a later follow up interview. These interviews would usually last no longer than an hour. This will be a ‘qualitative’ interview – that means it will be more like a conversation rather than a ‘tick box’ survey interview of the kind you have already done. You don’t need to do any preparation for the interview; the questions will all just be about things to do with your own life. The interview will take place at a time and place that is convenient for you (usually your own home) and will be done by members of the research team.

We try to give people as much control over the process as possible. You don’t have to take part at all, you can decide not to answer particular questions, or withdraw from the study at any time. You won’t be pressed to answer any question you don’t want to and will be able stop the interview at any point.

Although you aren’t under any kind of obligation to take part we hope that you will be interested in doing so and indeed get something from the experience. To encourage people to take part and to acknowledge the time involved each participant will receive a ‘thank you’ gift of a £20 high street voucher at the end of the interview.

Is it confidential?
Any information given as part of the interviews will be kept strictly confidential. No information which could be used to identify individuals will be available to anyone outside the research team. All interview recordings, transcripts and topic guides will be held securely for an agreed period and then destroyed.

Only in exceptional circumstances (involving direct and obvious threat of serious harm) will breach of confidentiality be considered, and a final decision will be made by senior members of the research team on the basis of pre-defined escalation procedures.

The data will be reported on fully and accurately and, with participants consent, fully anonymised versions will be lodged with the ESDS.

What happens now?
An interviewer from the research team will contact you to arrange a date for the interview at a time and location that is convenient for you. The interviewer will provide more information about the study and encourage you to ask about anything you are unsure about.

Something to say?
By clicking here, you can go to a part of the website which has been set up to allow you add something or comment on your experiences of being interviewed. For example, perhaps following your interview you've remembered something or maybe you have more to say about a particular issue. Because this part of the website is password-protected, only members of the research team will be able to see what you write.


		Information for participants How did you get my name? The research team got your name as one of the people who took part in the 2007 British Social Attitudes survey. During the survey you gave your consent to be re-contacted in connection with taking part in a follow up qualitative interview. What will it involve? You will be asked to take part in one interview initially with the possibility of a later follow up interview. These interviews would usually last no longer than an hour. This will be a ‘qualitative’ interview – that means it will be more like a conversation rather than a ‘tick box’ survey interview of the kind you have already done. You don’t need to do any preparation for the interview; the questions will all just be about things to do with your own life. The interview will take place at a time and place that is convenient for you (usually your own home) and will be done by members of the research team. We try to give people as much control over the process as possible. You don’t have to take part at all, you can decide not to answer particular questions, or withdraw from the study at any time. You won’t be pressed to answer any question you don’t want to and will be able stop the interview at any point. Although you aren’t under any kind of obligation to take part we hope that you will be interested in doing so and indeed get something from the experience. To encourage people to take part and to acknowledge the time involved each participant will receive a ‘thank you’ gift of a £20 high street voucher at the end of the interview. Is it confidential? Any information given as part of the interviews will be kept strictly confidential. No information which could be used to identify individuals will be available to anyone outside the research team. All interview recordings, transcripts and topic guides will be held securely for an agreed period and then destroyed. Only in exceptional circumstances (involving direct and obvious threat of serious harm) will breach of confidentiality be considered, and a final decision will be made by senior members of the research team on the basis of pre-defined escalation procedures. The data will be reported on fully and accurately and, with participants consent, fully anonymised versions will be lodged with the ESDS. What happens now? An interviewer from the research team will contact you to arrange a date for the interview at a time and location that is convenient for you. The interviewer will provide more information about the study and encourage you to ask about anything you are unsure about. Something to say? By clicking here, you can go to a part of the website which has been set up to allow you add something or comment on your experiences of being interviewed. For example, perhaps following your interview you've remembered something or maybe you have more to say about a particular issue. Because this part of the website is password-protected, only members of the research team will be able to see what you write.