Online Therapy Ethics Research Study
How ethically are we practicing?
FAQ
Here, you can get all of the information that you need to feel comfortable participating in this study. The survey link is above, and everything you need to know about incentives to complete the study is below. Thank you in advance for your participation!
Incentives
Don't forget to get what you came for (well at least a bonus for your time!)...please email me at the address above (kholmes@uu.edu) to receive:
1). A full reading list of my compiled research on online therapy...everything I used and didn't use in my disseration is at your disposal as a way of saying thank you for participating...my countless hours are now yours :)
2). Your choice of either an Amazon (electronic) or Starbucks gift card. Everyone receives something, while a lucky few receive larger prizes ($250 maximum).
I have no way of tracking you from your survey, so make sure to email me with the code that shows me that you have completed it at my email address. Again, thank you so much...your answers are crucial to the outcome of this study.
Dates of the Study
There will be a 21-day window which online mental health professionals will have to complete the survey. Professionals in this industry are used to turning around electronic inquiries within a short time frame, so giving more of a window is unlikely to increase response rates.
Access
The survey online location will be on the Survey Monkey website, with its own unique link to assure anonymity (the survey will not be collecting email addresses or IP addressees) that can be accessed from anywhere in the world that has an internet connection and basic capabilities.
Security, Confidentiality and Anonymity
The survey and its transmission will also be protected with SSL security and technology. Participants will be able to see the “secure” detonation by the fact that there will be an “https” versus just “http” in the beginning of the link address. Survey responses will be anonymous as the survey does not ask for identifying information from participants, nor do we track via email address. If for any reason, you are still not comforted by the anonymity provided by this technology and the fact that we are not collecting email addresses, simply use a public computer (one that is not solely yours in your home or office). This type of caution may be extreme, but if any part of you is worried about your answers, this should provide the reassurance you need. Also know that all questions are voluntary and while it is best for this study if all questions are answered, it is not required.
Your Participation is Crucial
Your answers to this study, your honest answers to this study are crucial to the future of online therapy. It is a study that will provide a benchmark in our daily practice- how we do things now, what we are confused about, what we need guidance on. Please encourage those that you know to participate in this most relevant study (to all of us).
Troubleshooting (Possible Issues)
1. Cookies
This survey is programmed to "remember" where you were in the event of an internet interruption, power outage or you simply answer the phone, walk away from the computer and forget about it until hours later. If when you renew the link, you are not where you left off before the interruption (i.e. the page timed out)...it is probably because you have cookie blockers. The survey will not hack your program so you just need to make an adjustment.
In order to clear your cookies, please select the Tools option from your browser's menu bar. Please also check under Privacy or Security to make sure that pop-ups are allowed for surveymonkey.com. Next select Internet Options. Clear our cookies located under the General tab in this prompt. Also in the internet options, go to the privacy tab and make sure that surveymonkey.com is listed as an allowed site to accept cookies from! (This is important, the site will not function without allowing cookies from surveymonkey.com). You should also LOWER your browser's security settings as far as you can (you can always bring them back up later). Finally close all of your open browsers. Open a fresh browser and try the survey again.
2. Java
You may need to enable JavaScript, please look here for instructions on how to do this:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/HelpCenter/Answer.aspx?HelpID=143
3. Pop-up blockers
Is your computer or network restricting access to certain sites?
If the user is behind a firewall that blocks access to all traffic except for certain domains and the network has granted access to www.surveymonkey.com, the administrators of that network will have to either allow all subdomains of surveymonkey.com or explicitly add:
surveymonkey.com
images.surveymonkey.com
styles.surveymonkey.com
scripts.surveymonkey.com
secure.surveymonkey.com
www.surveymonkey.com
smonkey.surveymonkey.com
4. Your Browser (namely Internet Explorer 7)
Since the new version of Explorer came out, there have been all sorts of security type glitches with countless programs. This may be one of them for you- sorry!
It could also be due to compatibility issues with your browser. SurveyMonkey.com should work with almost all browsers, although we (and many other sites) have been experiencing some issues with Internet Explorer 7. You may want to try firefox (it's free!):
http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/
Incentives
Don't forget to get what you came for (well at least a bonus for your time!)...please email me at the address above (kholmes@uu.edu) to receive:
1). A full reading list of my compiled research on online therapy...everything I used and didn't use in my disseration is at your disposal as a way of saying thank you for participating...my countless hours are now yours :)
2). Your choice of either an Amazon (electronic) or Starbucks gift card. Everyone receives something, while a lucky few receive larger prizes ($250 maximum).
I have no way of tracking you from your survey, so make sure to email me with the code that shows me that you have completed it at my email address. Again, thank you so much...your answers are crucial to the outcome of this study.
Dates of the Study
There will be a 21-day window which online mental health professionals will have to complete the survey. Professionals in this industry are used to turning around electronic inquiries within a short time frame, so giving more of a window is unlikely to increase response rates.
Access
The survey online location will be on the Survey Monkey website, with its own unique link to assure anonymity (the survey will not be collecting email addresses or IP addressees) that can be accessed from anywhere in the world that has an internet connection and basic capabilities.
Security, Confidentiality and Anonymity
The survey and its transmission will also be protected with SSL security and technology. Participants will be able to see the “secure” detonation by the fact that there will be an “https” versus just “http” in the beginning of the link address. Survey responses will be anonymous as the survey does not ask for identifying information from participants, nor do we track via email address. If for any reason, you are still not comforted by the anonymity provided by this technology and the fact that we are not collecting email addresses, simply use a public computer (one that is not solely yours in your home or office). This type of caution may be extreme, but if any part of you is worried about your answers, this should provide the reassurance you need. Also know that all questions are voluntary and while it is best for this study if all questions are answered, it is not required.
Your Participation is Crucial
Your answers to this study, your honest answers to this study are crucial to the future of online therapy. It is a study that will provide a benchmark in our daily practice- how we do things now, what we are confused about, what we need guidance on. Please encourage those that you know to participate in this most relevant study (to all of us).
If you are interested in being contacted for further questions (follow up) in the form of a phone (or email) interview, please feel free to send me an email request to kholmes@uu.edu as the survey is anonymous (we are not able to even collect IP addresses on this platform) and I have no way to identify you.
Troubleshooting (Possible Issues)
1. Cookies
This survey is programmed to "remember" where you were in the event of an internet interruption, power outage or you simply answer the phone, walk away from the computer and forget about it until hours later. If when you renew the link, you are not where you left off before the interruption (i.e. the page timed out)...it is probably because you have cookie blockers. The survey will not hack your program so you just need to make an adjustment.
In order to clear your cookies, please select the Tools option from your browser's menu bar. Please also check under Privacy or Security to make sure that pop-ups are allowed for surveymonkey.com. Next select Internet Options. Clear our cookies located under the General tab in this prompt. Also in the internet options, go to the privacy tab and make sure that surveymonkey.com is listed as an allowed site to accept cookies from! (This is important, the site will not function without allowing cookies from surveymonkey.com). You should also LOWER your browser's security settings as far as you can (you can always bring them back up later). Finally close all of your open browsers. Open a fresh browser and try the survey again.
2. Java
You may need to enable JavaScript, please look here for instructions on how to do this:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/HelpCenter/Answer.aspx?HelpID=143
3. Pop-up blockers
Is your computer or network restricting access to certain sites?
If the user is behind a firewall that blocks access to all traffic except for certain domains and the network has granted access to www.surveymonkey.com, the administrators of that network will have to either allow all subdomains of surveymonkey.com or explicitly add:
surveymonkey.com
images.surveymonkey.com
styles.surveymonkey.com
scripts.surveymonkey.com
secure.surveymonkey.com
www.surveymonkey.com
smonkey.surveymonkey.com
4. Your Browser (namely Internet Explorer 7)
Since the new version of Explorer came out, there have been all sorts of security type glitches with countless programs. This may be one of them for you- sorry!
It could also be due to compatibility issues with your browser. SurveyMonkey.com should work with almost all browsers, although we (and many other sites) have been experiencing some issues with Internet Explorer 7. You may want to try firefox (it's free!):
http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/
