You are being invited to take part in a research study. Before you decide to take part, it is important for you to understand why the research is being done and what it will involve. Please take time to read the following information carefully and discuss it with others if you wish. Ask me if there is anything that is not clear or if you would like more information. If you would like to, we can arrange a quick call over the phone or online before agreeing to participate in the research in order to meet or discuss anything you are unsure about. Take some time to decide whether or not you wish to take part.
Thank you for reading this.
What is the purpose of this study?
My name is Ulku Baturoglu Balci, and I am a postgraduate researcher at the University of Glasgow. I am conducting my PhD research on women's experiences of gender-based violence in rural areas of Scotland. I would like to understand how women experience and deal with gender-based violence in rural and remote areas/ communities in Scotland. To gain an understanding, I would like to talk to you about
your experience of gender-based violence.
Why are your views important?
You have been contacted because of your previous or recent experiences of gender-based violence. You are being identified via the support organisation that you got or are currently getting support from them. As a woman living in a rural area in Scotland, you can provide valuable information to help me understand women’s experiences of gender-based violence in rural areas. You can make a unique and valuable contribution to a study that will be one of the first attempts to understand gender-based violence experiences of women living in rural areas of Scotland. This PhD research is funded by the Republic of Turkey Ministry of National Education.
What will participation involve?
Participation will involve taking part in an individual interview that will last for about an hour (it could be longer or shorter if you wish). The interview will be online via Zoom or over phone, depending on which is more convenient for you, and will take place on a mutually convenient date and time. If we decide to interview via Zoom, I will create an online meeting on Zoom using my university account and share all the necessary information you need to know about the platform before our meeting. All interviews will be conducted by me. You are very welcome to have a friend or supporter present during the interview if you so wish. During the interview, I will ask you about your own experiences of gender-based violence. If you do not wish to answer any questions, you can let me know without any reason and I will skip those questions. I will ask your permission about the audio-recording of our interview before starting the interview. If you agree, I will audio-record the interview to ensure that I have an accurate account of what you say.
Will the information provided be kept confidential?
Yes, I will endeavour to keep all information you provide confidential. Any information that may reveal your identity will be anonymised through using pseudonyms. However, although research locations will never be disclosed and remain anonymous, and you will be referred by pseudonyms, full confidentiality and anonymity may be impossible to guarantee due to the limited number of support organisations and advocacy workers in rural areas of Scotland and it may also be possible to identify you based on the specific details you share. Short statements from the interview may be used in my PhD thesis or other forms of academic publications. All statements will be fully anonymised and made non-attributable. All data will be stored on a password-encrypted computer, which is only accessible by me. I will transfer all my written notes to my password-encrypted computer immediately after our interview and destroy all written notes. If you wish, you are welcome to have a supporter present during the interview. I would like to remind you that, in that case, the supporter will also have the information that you will share during the interview. Please note that assurances on confidentiality will be strictly adhered to unless evidence of wrongdoing or potential harm is uncovered. In such cases the University may be obliged to contact relevant statutory bodies/agencies.
What will the information collected be used for?
The information collected will be used for my PhD thesis at the University of Glasgow. The findings of this research may also be published in other forms such as articles in academic journals, conference papers, book chapters or a policy briefing. No identifying details will be used in any publication.
Do I have to take part?
No, your participation in the study is entirely voluntary. If you do not want to participate, then you do not have to. And, you do not have to explain the reasons why you do not want to. If you decide to take part but then change your mind, you can withdraw at any time without giving any reason. This project has been considered and approved by the College Research Ethics Committee.
If you have any questions or concerns about any aspects of this research, you can contact me at
[email protected]
If you would like to contact research supervisors regarding the conduct of this research, you can
contact supervisors at [email protected] and [email protected]
To pursue any complaint about the conduct of the research: contact the College of Social Sciences
Ethics Officer, Dr Muir Houston, email: [email protected]
