7.1. Information Sheet & Declaration of Consent
My name is Thembalethu Shangase (student number 208504131). I am Masters Student, at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. I am doing a research project entitled, “Marriage aspirations and attitudes towards pre-marital child-bearing: A case study of unmarried female Zulu-speaking students at a Durban university.” This project is supervised by Professor Dorrit Posel at the School of Built Environment and Development Studies, University of KwaZulu-Natal.
Study Aims:
1. To investigate how unmarried Zulu-speaking females at university view marriage and its role in contemporary (post-apartheid) Zulu society
2. To ascertain if marriage is valued as a personal goal by unmarried Zulu-speaking female university students 3. To explore the perceptions of unmarried female Zulu-speaking university students towards pre-marital
childbearing
I am managing the project; the expected duration of the study is six months [February/March 2014 August/September 2014]. Should you have any questions, my contact details and those of the school and the university research office are:
Researcher & Supervisor:
Researcher: Ms Thembalethu Shangase Cell: 073 858 1035
Email:[email protected]|[email protected] Supervisor: Prof Dori Posel (PhD Economics) National Research Foundation, (SARChI): Chair in Economic Development.
School of Built Environment and Development Studies, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.
Tel: +2731 205 2287|Fax: +2731 260 2359|E-mail:
Academic Leader:
Prof Richard Ballard - Developments Studies Academic Leader
School of Built Environment and Development Studies, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban
Tel: +2731260-2266|Fax:
+2731260-2359|E-mail:
Research Office:
University of KwaZulu-Natal, Research Office: Ethics;
Govan Mbeki Centre Tel +2731 260 4557|Fax +2731 260 4609| E-mail [email protected]
Participants for this project were identified (volunteered) at a research/recruitment presentation carried out at all the university residents. Participation criteria are as follows:
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- Must be an unmarried Zulu speaking female, registered for degree studies at the University of KwaZulu- Natal and is aged between 18 – 35yrs. Respondents who fit the above criteria and who have one/ more children are encouraged to participate.
- Thank you for agreeing to take part in the project, I would like to emphasize the following:
1. Your participation is entirely voluntary, and you may withdraw at any point you wish to. To withdraw from the study, please inform the researcher via email, sms or verbally.
2. You are required to give the researcher a telephone number or email address you’re reachable on during the semester, so that we may arrange interview, contact you for a re-interview if necessary & to share the research findings.
3. You may meet with the researcher at a location of your choice which will be conducive to the interview conditions (at a University Res/ Campus, quiet, minimal distraction & safe)
4. You will be required to answer questions in an interviewed by the researcher, which will be recorded. The interview will take up to two hours; which will include informing respondents (you) of confidentiality, anonymity, and gaining their consent.
5. You are required to give consent to audio recording of the interview, in the form of a signed declaration of consent. (see declaration of consent attached)
6. During the interview you are required to use a pseudonym (false/made up name) which you can create yourself/ be given by the researcher, this is to protect your identity. This name that you choose or are given, will be the ONLY name used to refer to you throughout the research process (data collection, analysis & results reporting).
7. During the interview, you are free to refuse to answer any question, or request that certain components/
responses not be audio recorded.
8. Each respondent will be interviewed once (2hrs), a single follow-up telephonic / in person session to verify details or a re-interview may occur (only if necessary)
9. You will NOT be required to perform any tasks that will cause you discomfort or be hazardous.
10. You will NOT be put under duress of any kind and are free to withdraw from the study at any time.
11. The total duration of the research project is six months (which includes analysis and writing up of findings &
complete dissertation), although it is highly unlikely, respondents (you) may be called up for verification of information at other stages beyond the interview. There will be NO benefits derived from participating in this study
12. There will be NO payments or reimbursement of financial expenses (no financial expenses are expected)
13. All written and audio recordings will be seen & used ONLY by the researcher and supervisor in this study/
related studies. All data will be stored in a safe format (password protected &security safe) and disposed after 5years (deleted/ shredded).
14. The interview will be kept strictly confidential & anonymity will be protected at all times (see. point. 6).
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I ……… the respondent/participant, clearly understand the aims of this research project, and that my participation is entirely voluntary as well as that I have the right to withdraw my participation at any point during the study. I will inform the researcher via email, or sms (see. Contact details on the information sheet) or verbally should I wish to withdraw. I understand and accept all the requirements outlined on the information sheet, and acknowledge that the interview will be kept strictly confidential and will ONLY be available to members of the research team. I am aware that excerpts from the interview may be made part of the final research report.
I give my consent/ permission for…: (please tick one of the options below) Audio recording (to be reordered)
Written recording
Choose / be given a pseudonym (false/ made up name) To be contacted for follow up session or re-interview
Excerpts from my interview being made part of the final report
The selected pseudonym for the duration of the study will be ………...
Please sign this form to show that you have read and understood all the contents & conditions of participation, and that you give consent.
--- (Signed at) --- (date) --- --- (print name)
Write your contact details below if you wish to be re-interviewed / receive a copy of the research report:
Tel/Cell:
Email:
Preferred Postal/ Physical Address:
For use by researcher ONLY:
Respondent requested not to respond to the following question(s): _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
Respondent requested the following section(s)/question(s) not to be audio recorded _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ If respondent withdrew from study: via [email/ sms/ verbal] _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (date of withdrawal) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (Reason).
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