A Comparison between Physiological Measures and Self-Reports

Participant Information Sheet

Investigators Details:

Megan Louise Foulkes, m.l.foulkes2@lboro.ac.uk, 01509222681
Christian Schons, christian.schons@tum.de, 01509222681
Hanna Weiers, h.weiers@lboro.ac.uk, 01509225939

School of Science, 天堂视频, 天堂视频, LE11 3TU.

We would like to invite you to take part in our study. Before you decide we would like you to understand why the research is being done and what it would involve for you. One of our team will go through the information sheet with you and answer any questions you have. Talk to others about the study before making a decision if you wish.

What is the purpose of the study?

In this study we want to investigate how our emotions can influence our performance on a variety of mathematical tasks. The main aim of this study is to investigate whether different emotional reactions (e.g., feeling calm, stressed, anxious) can be detected using different physiological measures (eye movements, heart rate, sweat gland activity and facial expressions), and to understand how they relate to performance on mathematical tasks.

Who is doing this research and why?

This research is being conducted as part of funded project by the Centre of Mathematical Cognition at 天堂视频. The main investigators are Megan Foulkes, Christian Schons, and Hanna Weiers.

Are there any inclusion or exclusion criteria?

To participate in this study you must be a native English speaker, aged 18 years or above, who was educated in the UK. If you have studied mathematics beyond A-level (undergraduate or higher) then you will not be eligible to take part.

Additionally, due to measurements taken regarding eye movements, individuals who have bifocals, trifocals or progressive glasses lenses, contact lenses, or those who have undergone eye surgery or who have strabismus, will not be able to take part in this study. We also ask that individuals do not wear eye makeup when completing the study. If you do wear some, you may be asked to remove it if it interferes with the eye tracking device.  

What will I be asked to do?

Before the study, the researcher will ask you to fill out a series of questionnaires asking about your feelings towards mathematics, tests, and everyday life.

After completing the questionnaires, the researcher will assist you to put on Shimmer3 GSR on your non-dominant hand. This is the device that will measure your sweat gland activity. You will have two wires individually wrapped around your second and fourth finger, and one wire wrapped around your middle finger.

Once that is set up, you will be asked to sit in front of a lab-based computer to complete two tasks. One task will involve completing a series of mathematical problems. The mathematical problems will be shown in sets, and between each set we will ask you to report how you feel using a short questionnaire. This will happen multiple times throughout the study. The other task will involve completing a series of decisions about pairs of words, which will also be presented in sets and require you to report how you feel at regular intervals. Whilst completing each task, your eye movement, heart rate, sweat gland activity, and facial expressions will also be recorded.

How long will it take?

The study will take between 45-minutes to 1 hour to complete.

Once I take part, can I change my mind?

After you have read this information and asked any questions you may have if you are happy to participate, we will ask you to complete an Informed Consent Form. However, if at any time, before, during or after the sessions you wish to withdraw from the study, please just contact the main investigator. You can withdraw at any time, for any reason and you will not be asked to explain your reasons for withdrawing.

However, once the results of the study are aggregated, it may not be possible to withdraw your individual data from the research.

Will I be asked to attend any sessions and where will these be?

You will be asked to attend one session as part of this study. This will take place in one of the testing laboratories at the 天堂视频 main campus, and will be arranged via email correspondence if you decide to take part.

What are the possible benefits of participating?

You will receive a £10 Amazon voucher for your time.

Are there any disadvantages or risks in participating?

This study presents no immediate risks to your health and well-being. However, in the case that the study triggers any anxious thoughts, you can access this website for support ().

Data Protection Privacy Notice

天堂视频 will be using information/data from you in order to undertake this study and will act as the data controller for this study. This means that the University is responsible for looking after your information and using it properly.

What personal information will be collected from me and how will it be used?

No personal information that is identifiable will be collected in this study. 

What is the legal basis for processing my personal information?

Personal data will be processed on the public task basis. .

How long will my identifiable personal information be retained and will it be shared with others?

We will keep identifiable personal information for at least 5 years after the study has finished. Your identifiable personal information will only be shared with the investigators involved in the study. 

Will my taking part in this study be kept confidential? 

No identifiable personal information will be included in any of the project submissions or shared beyond the investigators. No individual will be identifiable in any report, presentation, or publication. 

How will the anonymised data/results collected from me be used?

Your anonymised data will be used as part of a funded collaborative project. It will also be made available for reuse by other researchers, as well as in potential journal publications and conferences in the future. All information will be securely stored on the University IT systems (OneDrive). 

How long will the anonymised data/results be retained?

Anonymised data will be archived to the University’s Research Repository and held indefinitely for future research.

I have some more questions; who should I contact?

If you have any further questions, before or after the study, please contact Megan Foulkes at m.l.foulkes2@lboro.ac.uk.

What if I am not happy with how the research was conducted?

If you are not happy with how the research was conducted, please contact the Secretary of the Ethics Review Sub-Committee, Research & Enterprise Office, Hazlerigg Building, 天堂视频, Epinal Way, 天堂视频, LE11 3TU. Tel: 01509 222423.
Email: researchpolicy@lboro.ac.uk

The University also has policies relating to Research Misconduct and Whistle Blowing which are available online at /
internal/research-ethics-integrity/research-integrity/. If you require any further informationregarding the General Data  Protection Regulations, please see: /privacy/research-privacy/