Parental Consent Form

Dear Parent/Guardian,

            We invite you and your child to take part in a research study being conducted at Hampden-Sydney College. This study aims to explore how social inhibition affects individuals across different generations. Your child has been invited to participate because they fall within the target age group for our research. Please review this form carefully and feel free to ask any questions before deciding on your child’s participation.

Purpose of the Study

The purpose of this study is to assess social inhibition across different generations using the SIQ15 questionnaire and demographic questions. Prior research hasn’t covered much on cohort effect in personality, and this study aims to provide that additional research on this topic. Social inhibition is a well-documented psychological construct that influences individuals' ability to engage in social interactions. Prior research, such as Duijndam et al. (2020), has explored how socially inhibited individuals regulate emotions and behavior in uncomfortable social situations. While prior studies have established the negative consequences of social inhibition, less attention has been given to how its expression and impact vary across different age cohorts. There is reason to suspect that social inhibition may interact with age due to shifts in social norms, generational experiences, and the evolving nature of interpersonal communication. This study aims to examine the interaction between social inhibition and age to determine whether observed differences across age groups reflect developmental changes or generational influences. Identifying a cohort effect would highlight the need for age-specific approaches to mitigating the negative consequences of social inhibition and inform tailored interventions for different generations.

What Your Child Will Do in the Study

If you consent to your child’s participation, they will:

• Complete the SIQ15 questionnaire, which assesses social inhibition.

Potential Risks & Benefits

• Risks: Some questions may ask about uncomfortable social experiences, which could cause mild distress.
• Minimization Strategies: Participants may skip any question that makes them uncomfortable and can withdraw from the study at any time. A debriefing statement will provide resources for campus counseling services if needed.
• Benefits: While there is no direct benefit to participants, this study will help researchers understand social inhibition and contribute to psychological research.

Voluntary Participation & Confidentiality

• Your child’s participation is completely voluntary. They may withdraw from the study at any time without any penalty.
• All responses are confidential and will not include any personally identifying information.
• Data will be securely stored and only used for this research project.

Parental Permission & Child Assent

If you agree for your child to participate, they will also be asked to provide their own assent before beginning the study. This ensures they understand the study and agree to participate voluntarily.

If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Locey at (Mlocey@hsc.edu) or the Hampden-Sydney IRB Chair, Dr. Rebecca Bauer (rbauer@hsc.edu).

By signing below, I (parent/legal guardian) hereby give consent for my child (name below) to participate in the research project entitled, "Social Inhibition Across Generations: A Cohort Analysis." The study has been explained to me and my questions have been answered to my satisfaction. I understand that my child’s right to withdraw from participating or refuse to participate will be respected and that their responses and identity will be kept confidential. I give this consent voluntarily.