Consent to Participate

Title of the Project: Global Crowns: Emotions Surrounding Natural Hair of Black Women around the Globe

Investigators at Howard University: Dr. Nicole Dezrea Jenkins

Investigators at UNC Charlotte: Mr. Yash Tadimalla

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW:

∙ The purpose of the study is to better understand the experiences of Black people as they  navigate various institutions with Natural Hair.  

∙ If you choose to participate, you will be asked to participant in an online research study  prompted by a series of questions. You will provide you story by uploading a audio, or  written version of your experience to a designated research website  

(www.nickiejenkins.com). This will take approximately 30 minutes. 

∙ Risks or discomforts from this research include feelings of discomfort discussing answers to  questions.  

∙ There are no direct benefits from participating in this study.

DESCRIPTION

You are invited to participate in a research study on 

∙ Narrative experiences on natural hair  

∙ The purpose of this research is to better understand how Black people experience  participation in various institutions while wearing their natural hair and natural hair styles.  ∙ You will be asked to answer a series of questions and describe a series of experiences, while  being audio or video-recorded. The recordings will be secure and private, and only the  Principle Investigator (PI- Dr. Nicole Jenkins) will have access to them. The recordings will  remain secure and private indefinitely, once the study is complete. 

WHAT WILL I DO IF I CHOOSE TO BE IN THIS STUDY?

You will be asked to  

Participants will be required to read and sign consent documentation as part of the navigation  prior to being able to participate in the study. The website will be designed so that  participants will be unable to navigate to participate in the study without signing a content.  Participants will receive a digital and paper copy of the consent before and after they sign. 

While participants will be able to see the research guide (on how to participate in the study  and the questions prompts) prior to their signed consent and participation (when they  navigate the study website), they will not have the ability to provide responses without  signing a consent first. The website will be designed to require consent before proceeding to  the participation screen. Once the content is received, Participants will independently upload  their video/ audio recordings or written responses based on the research guide and prompt  questions.

TIME INVOLVEMENT

Study participation will take approximately One interview with a maximum time of 90 minutes for a  commitment to one (1) interview. There will be no follow-up interviews. 

STUDY LOCATION

∙ All study procedures will take place online only.  

∙ Participants will have the opportunity to upload audio, video or written stories about their natural  hair with a prompt to assist them on the best things to include. I will keep all uploaded data  encrypted. 

∙ All data will be screened for identifying information and this information will be removed. Data will  be kept secure using password protection. Only PI will have the passwords to access data uploaded to  the website for this study.

WHAT ARE THE POSSIBLE RISKS OR DISCOMFORTS?

∙ Your participation in this study may involve the following risks: 

∙ Risks or discomforts from this research include feelings of discomfort discussing answers to  questions. 

∙ Emotional and psychological risks, including risks of emotional discomfort from being asked  about or discussing sensitive issues. 

o You may feel emotional or upset when answering some of the questions. 

o You may be uncomfortable with some of the questions and topics we will ask about. If  you are uncomfortable, you are not obligated to share.  

∙ As with all research, there is a chance that confidentiality of the information we collect from  you could be breached – we will take steps to minimize this risk, as discussed in more detail  below in this form. 

WHAT ARE THE POSSIBLE BENEFITS?

∙ We cannot and do not guarantee or promise that you will receive any benefits from this  study. 

∙ This study is designed to learn more about the experiences of Black people wearing natural  hair and natural hair styles throughout the globe.  

∙ The study results may be used to help other people in the future. 

∙ Your decision whether or not to participate in this study will not affect your: employment;  parole status, or any other legal matters. 

HOW WILL YOU PROTECT THE INFORMATION YOU COLLECT ABOUT ME, AND  HOW WILL THAT INFORMATION BE SHARED?

∙ Results of this study may be used in publications and presentations.  

∙ Your study data will be handled as confidentially as possible.  

∙ If results of this study are published or presented, individual names and other personally  identifiable information will not be used.  

∙ To minimize the risks to confidentiality, we will encrypt our data to remove any identifiable  information.  

∙ We may share the data we collect from you for use in future research studies or with other  researchers – if we share the data that we collect about you, we will remove any information  that could identify you before we share it.  

∙ If we think that you intend to harm yourself or others, we will notify the appropriate people  with this information.

ARE THERE PAYMENTS/COMPENSATION? 

∙ Participation in this study will involve no cost to you. You will not be paid for participating  in this study. 

WHAT ARE MY RIGHTS AS A RESEARCH PARTICIPANT?

∙ If you have read this form and have decided to participate in this project, please understand  your participation is voluntary and you have the right to withdraw your consent or  discontinue participation at any time without penalty or loss of benefits to which you  are otherwise entitled.  

∙ You have the right to refuse to answer questions.  

∙ The results of this research study may be presented at scientific or professional meetings or  published in scientific journals. 

PRIVACY and CONFIDENTIALITY 

∙ Your individual privacy will be maintained in all published and written data resulting from the  study.  

∙ All data will be coded by identification number assigned to you and are known only by the  investigators on this project.  

∙ Your name will not be associated with the results.  

∙ After the removal of identifiers from identifiable private information, the information could  be used for future research studies or distributed to another investigator for future research  studies without additional informed consent from you. 

WHO CAN I CONTACT IF I HAVE QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS ABOUT THIS RESEARCH  STUDY?

∙ Questions: If you have questions, you are free to ask them now.  

∙ If you have questions later, concerns or complaints about this research, its procedures, risks and  benefits, contact the Principal Investigator, Dr. Nicole D. Jenkins, Ph.D.  

nicole.jenkins@howard.edu (760) 977-9094.  

∙ Independent Contact: If you are not satisfied with how this study is being conducted, or if you  have any concerns, complaints, or general questions about the research or your rights as a  participant, please contact the Howard University Institutional Review Board to speak to  someone independent of the research team (PI- Dr. Nicole Jenkins) at (202)-865-8597. 9:00  AM-5:00 PM EST.  

∙ You can also write to: The Institutional Review Board theorrc@howard.edu.   

UNIVERSITY STATEMENT 

∙ If you suffer physical injury during your participation in this research, the Howard University  Hospital will provide acute and necessary medical treatment and subsequently provide  referrals to appropriate health care facilities.  

∙ Acute treatment cost will be charged to your insurance carrier, and or to any other party  responsible for your treatment costs.  

∙ Neither the Howard University Hospital nor Howard University College of Medicine can  provide any financial compensation due to any injury suffered during this research study.