Title
Motivational tendencies of adolescent girls (13 – 17 years) engaging in community-based physical activity initiatives.
Introduction
The purpose of this form is to provide you (as the parent/guardian of a prospective research study participant) with information that may affect your decision to let your child participate/not participate in this research study. Please read the information below and ask any questions you might have before deciding to give/not give your permission for your child to take part. If you grant permission, this form will be used to record your agreement with the terms of the study.
Purpose of the Study
The research study is to examine what motivates adolescent girls aged 13 to 17 years to engage in community based physical activity initiatives. The purpose of this research is to gain a comprehensive understanding of the factors that encourage teenage girls to participate in these programmes. By doing so, we aspire to enhance the effectiveness of these programmes, with the aim of boosting the confidence and competence of the participants and fostering a continued commitment to maintaining an active lifestyle.
What is my child going to be asked to do?
If your child participates in this study, they will be asked to:
Complete a motivational survey of approximately 15 minutes duration at the beginning and end of the physical activity programme.
Participate in a 45-to-60-minute focus group session at the beginning of the programme to explore their motivations for engaging in physical activity. This study will involve both control and experimental groups, selected randomly. The control group will follow a predetermined physical activity programme, while the experimental group will have the opportunity to select their activities. The chosen activities will be discussed as part of the focus group for the participants in the experimental group.
Conclude the 6-week programme with a 45-to-60-minute final focus group to assess the programmes effectiveness. This session will be held on the last day of the programme with participants from both the control and experimental groups.
Conduct semi-structured interviews lasting approximately 20 minutes with participants who discontinued their involvement in the programme to gather insights into their reasons for doing so. This interview will be audio recorded if held in person or will be recorded on Zoom/MS teams if held virtually. In accordance with TUS regulations, audio recordings will be securely stored in digital format for 24 months on TUS OneDrive.
A safety observer will be present with the researcher in all settings. This person will serve as a point of contact for the participants to report any concerns and express their intention to withdraw at any stage if they so wish to. Withdrawing from the research will not affect their participation in the physical activity programme.
How many people will take part?
Your child will be one of 120 participants across 8 programmes, with each focus group consisting of up to 15 participants.
What are the risks involved in this study?
Privacy and Confidentiality
Participant identities will be protected with pseudonyms, and any potential identifiable information will be anonymised. All data and audio recordings will be stored securely for 24 months in accordance with TUS regulations. The data will be stored in digital format on TUS OneDrive.
Emotional Distress
The researcher has extensive experience in conducting focus groups with adolescent girls and will provide a safe and comfortable environment. Appropriate and easy to understand language will be used to avoid confusion. Participants will be advised that participation is voluntary, and they have the right to withdraw at any stage and up to one month after data collection from the research. Withdrawing from the research will not affect their participation in the physical activity programme. A safety observer will be present with the researcher in all settings and will serve as a point of contact for the participants.
Safeguarding Procedures
The researcher and tutors involved in the programme are Garda Vetted and have completed Safeguarding 1 training. A designated safety observer, also Garda Vetted, will be present in all focus groups and semi-structured interviews to ensure the wellbeing of participants.
Risk of Injury
Participants will complete a Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire to inform tutors of any medical issues or injuries. The researcher and tutors are all qualified in first aid. Health and safety checks are standard practice for all programmes.
What are the possible benefits of this study?
· Participating in a 6-week physical activity programme offers a multitude of advantages, such as enhanced physical and mental health, social interaction, skill development, goal setting, stress relief, health education and the promotion of long-term physical activity engagement. The primary goal of this research is to contribute to the overall wellbeing and health of adolescent girls by encouraging active and healthy lifestyles.
· Gain an understanding about what motivates teenage girls to take part in physical activity. Research and data to date shows that fewer girls than boys meet the national physical activity guidelines, and this decline increases through adolescence and early adulthood. By doing so, we can ensure that programmes and initiatives are developed in the community that meet their needs and increase their involvement in physical activity.
· Add to the existing body of knowledge and provide actionable insights for Sports Partnerships, educators, and policy makers to inform the development of effective strategies to enhance engagement and retention of teenage girls in community-based physical activity initiatives.
Does my child have to participate?
No, your child’s participation in this study is voluntary. You/your child may decline to participate or withdraw from participation at any time up to one month after data collection. Withdrawal or not wishing to participate in the research will not affect their participation in the physical activity programme or their relationship with Limerick Sports Partnership in any way. You can agree to allow your child to be in the study now and change your mind later without any penalty.
What if my child does not want to participate?
In addition to your permission, your child must agree to participate in the study. If your child does not want to participate, they will not be included in the study and there will be no penalty. If your child initially agrees to be in the study, they can change their mind at any stage and up to one month after data collection without any penalty.
Will there be any compensation?
Neither you nor your child will receive any type of payment participating in this study.
How will your child’s privacy and confidentiality be protected if she participates in this research study?
All information collected about your daughter during the research will be kept strictly confidential. Names will not be used, and any identifying fields will be deleted so it will not be possible for anyone to be identified in any published reporting of the data.
You can request to view all research and transcripts that have taken place concerning your child’s involvement in the research study and request a copy of the outcome from the researcher.
All data and audio recordings will be stored securely in digital format for 24 months in accordance with TUS regulations on TUS OneDrive with access only provided to the research team.
Supports Contact Information
Jigsaw: https://jigsaw.ie/get-support/
Spunout: https://spunout.ie/news/news-2/spunout-discovery-talk-now
Childline: https://childline.ie
For more information, please contact:
Investigator:
Ciara McInerney
Limerick Sports Partnership
UL Sport Arena
University of Limerick
Castletroy
Limerick
email: cmcinerney@limericksports.ie
This research study has received ethical approval from the Technological University of the Shannon: Midwest Research Ethics Committee. If you have any concerns about the study, please contact Phelim Macken, Senior Manager, Limerick Sports Partnership. E-mail: pmacken@limericksports.ie