Participant Information
Passion and Purpose in Circus Artists
Department of Psychology, Health and Professional Development Faculty of Health and Life Sciences Oxford Brookes University
Researcher: Katy Coleman Email: 18070687@brookes.ac.uk
Supervisor: David Foxcroft Email: david.foxcroft@brookes.ac.uk Tel: 01865 485283
Study Title
Exploring Passion and Purpose in Circus Artists
You are being invited to take part in a research study. Before you decide whether or not to take part, it is important for you to understand why the research is being done and what it will involve.
Please take time to read the following information carefully
Who has been invited to participate?
The study is open for independent/freelance circus artists over 18, fluent in English, with over 5 years performance experience and willing to be interviewed online on Zoom at a later date. Around 10 participants will be selected for interview after the questions following this information sheet have been submitted.
What is the purpose of the study?
Positive psychology helps people get the most out of their life. Having a career that one is passionate about and that provides a sense of purpose not only rewards the individual but can positively impact others and society.
This study aims to explore passion and purpose in circus artists via an online ZOOM interview. Interviews will take place in November 2021 – January 2022 and the research will be finished by mid-2022.
Circus artists are under-researched within psychology, as such the researcher hopes to give a valuable contribution to psychological research within the circus industry.
Do I have to take part?
No. It is up to you. If you do decide to take part you will be asked to provide your consent, a copy of this information sheet can be downloaded by clicking the 'download study information' button at the bottom of this page or at the end of the interview. If you decide to take part, you are free to withdraw unprocessed data without giving a reason. If you would like to withdraw from the study you can simply close your browser before completing the questionnaire, or there is a 'withdraw consent' button at the end of the questionnaire. If you do not opt to withdraw but change your mind before being contacted for interview, then please email this request to the researcher and clearly state your name.
What will happen to me if I take part?
You will answer a few questions and submit these. After this you may be contacted via email or mobile phone and invited for an interview at a mutually convenient time. The interview will take place online via Zoom and take between 45 minutes – 1.5 hours to complete. The interview will be divided into three sections, with a 5-15 minute break between sections. It is fine if you require any additional breaks during the interview. The interview will be audio recorded and transcribed.
What are the possible disadvantages and risks of taking part?
If you are selected for interview, you will need to schedule up to 1.5 hours for this. As such you will be giving your valuable time for free.
What are the possible benefits of taking part?
Although there are no monetary benefits to you, you may find the interview process therapeutic, interesting, and enjoyable as it gives you the chance to share your unique experience and be listened to.
Taking part will be help us to better understand how passion and purpose works, with particular insight into the experiences of circus artists. This can inform us on the well-being of circus artists and help them to flourish.
The main benefit will be to the researcher who is completing this research as part of their dissertation studies in psychology at Oxford Brookes University.
Will what I say in this study be kept confidential?
You will be asked for your name, email address and telephone number so the researcher can contact you to arrange an interview but your details in the write-up of the study will be anonymized.
Only the researchers involved in the study will have access to your questionnaire responses and interview transcripts. Confidentiality and privacy will be ensured in the collection and storage of, including anonymity in the publication of, research material (subject to legal limitations). Research data will be stored in Google Drive, for which the University has a security agreement.
What should I do if I want to take part?
If you want to opt into this study please answer the questions that follow this information sheet and submit. After this you may be selected for interview. If you are selected for interview the researcher will email you to invite you to schedule a date and time, if you do not respond to the email you may receive a phone call to check if you still wish to take part.
What will happen to the results of the research study?
The results of this study will be written up for a dissertation, and may be published in an academic journal, or presented at a conference. They may also be used for future research on the topic. All data collected from this research will be kept in keeping with the University’s policy of Academic Integrity. This means that all data will be securely stored in paper or electronic form for a period of 10 years when the project is finished.
Who has reviewed the study?
This research is being conducted by a Psychology student at Oxford Brookes University as part of the requirement for their course. The study procedures have been reviewed and approved by the Psychology Research Ethics Committee, Oxford Brookes University. If you have any concerns about how the study has been conducted, please contact the Psychology Research Ethics Officer, Dr Emma Davies, on edavies@brookes.ac.uk
Contact for Further Information
If you would like any further information then you can contact me, or my supervisor. Our details are on the top of this sheet.
If you wish to obtain a summary of the findings when they have been written up, please e-mail Katy Coleman at 18070687@brookes.ac.uk A summary of findings will be available by July 2022
Thank you for taking the time to read this information sheet.
Date: 19th October 2021
