Dear Prospective Participant,



Thank you for considering participating in the research project titled “Internet Gaming Disorder: Risk and Protective factors”. This research is conducted by Hannah Schena and Elwin Hu at the Cairnmillar Institute, under the supervision of Dr. Alastair Anderson.



The research aims to study the risks involved in relation to Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD). Specifically, personality traits and the experience of online Flow (being immersed in online gaming). IGD is a relatively new area of research about which there is much to learn and understand. New insights into IGD will assist researchers, psychologists and gamers by increasing the understanding of it. Your involvement in this study will help drive the research forward. Participating in this research, you will be representing the wider community of gamers.



If you consider yourself a gamer and you are 18 or older, then you are eligible to participate in this research.



It is important to note that your participation in this research is entirely voluntary and no identifying information will be collected, meaning that the researchers will not be able to trace the answers back to you. Whether or not you choose to participate will have no adverse consequences for you. You, as the participant, have the right to withdraw from the study at any time. However, since there is no identifying information collected, withdrawing from the study after submission of the questionnaire is not possible. Should you choose to participate, the results of your answers will be combined with those of a larger group of participants who have previously completed this same survey. Again, the researchers will be unable to link the answers to you. All information you share with the researchers will remain strictly confidential and anonymous, and will only be accessed by the researchers for the purposes of the present and future studies. The data collected will be kept for a minimum of five years, after which all data will be destroyed.



Participants will be invited to complete an online survey. This will take approximately 10 - 15 minutes. The survey is comprised of demographic, gaming, IGD, personality and questions on online Flow.



You may gain some benefit from participating in this research in so far as you may attain a better understanding of your experience when playing games online.



The research is not likely you distress. However, the researchers understand that some questions may be sensitive. Should you require support during or after the study, please contact the support agencies shown below.



Lifeline 13 11 14

Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636



This study has been approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee at The Cairnmillar Institute and will comply with the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research (National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia, 2007).



If you would like further information regarding this study, please contact the Principal researcher Dr Alastair Anderson. If you have any complaints about any aspect of the project, the way it is being conducted or any questions about your rights as a research participant, then you may also contact the Secretary to the Human Research Ethics Committee. All contact details can be found on the closing page.



Once the theses arising from this research have been completed, a brief summary of the findings will be made available to you on request. It is important to reaffirm that the results will not include any information that identifies you.



The research team appreciates and thanks you for taking the time to read the enclosed information.

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