Community Panel at Cardiff University
Please click to confirm you have read the above information:
Participant Panel Information Sheet
You are being invited to join a database of potential research participants held by the School of Psychology, Cardiff University. Before you decide, it is important for you to understand why this is being done and what being a participant will involve. Take time to decide whether or not you wish to take part.
Aims of the database
The database is being set up to allow easy access to potential research participants for studies of memory, and other types of cognitive processes, in the School of Psychology.
What will happen to me if I join the database?
It is up to you whether to join the database. If you decide you wish to be included in the database, we will ask you to fill in the consent form provided with this information sheet indicating agreement for your personal details to be included in the database. Agreeing to join the database does not mean that you agree to participate in any research studies, it just means that you agree to be approached about forthcoming studies. You are free to withdraw your name from the database at any time by emailing or writing to the database administrator at; Community Panel Database Administrator, School of Psychology, Freepost NAT14117, Cardiff, CF10 3ZQ, email: communitypanel@cardiff.ac.uk.
What types of studies will I be approached about if I join the database?
The consent form allows you to indicate whether you wish to be considered solely for memory experiments (Professor Kim Graham and Dr Ed Wilding), for experiments by other researchers in the School of Psychology and/or for studies by researchers in Cardiff University.
The consent form also allows you to indicate what types of experiments you would like to be approached about. These include behavioural studies and neuroimaging investigations carried out within the School of Psychology (see below for more information).
Once you have joined the database, researchers will approach you about experiments for which you might be suitable (e.g., an aging study). You will be given detailed information about the experiment, including what you will be required to do. If you would like to do this experiment, you will be asked into the School of Psychology to take part in the experiment. You are free to withdraw from any individual experiments or to change your details on the database at any time.
You will be paid for participation in experiments (Behavioural studies: £6 an hour, plus travel expenses of £3; Neuroimaging studies: £10 an hour, plus travel expenses of £3), but not for inclusion in the database.
What is a behavioural experiment?
Behavioural experiments typically involve doing experiments in the laboratory. These may involve simple memory tests, such as remembering faces or scenes, or being asked to discriminate between different objects. The School of Psychology has researchers interested in memory, perception, social processing and development, and the consent form allows you to indicate whether you would like to be considered for just memory studies (with Professor Kim Graham and Dr Ed Wilding) or for all types of behavioural investigations carried out in the School or more broadly in Cardiff University.
In some cases, we obtain saliva or blood samples when we do behavioural experiments. These can be used for looking at markers of stress or for genetic analyses. You can indicate whether you would be willing to be approached about providing such samples when they are required for a particular experiment. As for all studies, you would be provided with more detailed information about a particular experiment in order to allow you to decide whether to take part or not.
What is neuroimaging?
Psychologists are increasingly using neuroimaging techniques to understand how the brain supports different types of cognitive processes (e.g., memory, language and attention). There is a number of different techniques psychologists use, including fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging) and EEG (electroencephalography)/MEG (magnetoencephalography).
fMRI
In fMRI, we use a magnetic field to measure blood flow to different parts of the brain whilst the participant is performing simple tasks. By acquiring a series of images we can build up a picture of how the brain supports behaviour. The scan does not involve any medications, injections or X-rays, and MRI is generally considered a safe, non-invasive technique for understanding the workings of the human brain.
Certain people cannot have an fMRI scan, including individuals under 18 and people who have implants containing metal such as cardiac pacemakers, metal pins, screws or plates. The MRI machine can also induce claustrophobia in a small number of participants as the central 'tunnel' of the scanner is small. If you were interested in participating in fMRI, the researchers will have to ask you some questions to ensure you have no metal in your body.
EEG/MEG
EEG and MEG are safe, non-invasive means to measure the magnetic fields generated by neuronal activity of the brain using sophisticated sensors. In EEG the electrical signals are measured using a cap that is placed on the head, while in MEG the participant sits under a 'helmet' that is placed above the head.
EEG and MEG are particularly good at tracking the timing of activity in the brain - this is the downside of fMRI, which gives us good localisation of activity in the brain but at much longer durations than with EEG and MEG - and it can be useful to obtain both types of data in participants.
If you are interested in learning more about these techniques, and being considered for research studies that use them, there is a section on the consent form for you to indicate your interest. Ticking this box does not commit you to undertaking this type of study; it only indicates that you would be happy for researchers to approach you about the possibility of taking part in an experiment.
What are the possible benefits of taking part?
There will be no direct benefits to being included in the database. When you undertake experiments for researchers you will be reimbursed for your time and travel. Taking part in these studies will make an important contribution to our understanding of the relationship between brain and behaviour, and how these relationships can be affected after brain damage.
How often will I be seen?
How often you will be asked to participate in studies will depend both on the type of studies we run and your suitability for them. You may be asked to take part 2-4 times a year, but there is also a possibility that you will not be requested to participate in our research. You are, however, encouraged to indicate on the consent form which types of studies you are willing to consider taking part in.
Will my information be kept confidential?
All information collected about you for inclusion in the database will be kept confidential. It will only be accessible by those you have indicated on the consent form that may have access to your data. Researchers may only obtain this data if they have ethical approval from the School of Psychology Ethics Committee. All data is stored securely on encrypted disks at the Wales Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, School of Psychology, Tower Building, Park Place, Cardiff University, CF10 3AT.
Further information
If you would like further information or would like to discuss any aspect of volunteering for the community panel, please contact:
Community Panel Administrator
School of Psychology
FREEPOST NAT14117
Cardiff, CF10 3ZQ
Tel: 029 2087 0515
Email: communitypanel@cardiff.ac.uk