Telephone Survey Consent Form

Aloha! We are Anthology Research, a market research company based here in Hawaiʻi. We’re conducting a research study on the topic of sea level rise on behalf of the Institute for Sustainability and Resiliency at the University of Hawaii and the Pacific RISA program.

This consent form has already been verbally summarized by your telephone surveyor, but you are welcome to download and print it for your records.

What am I being asked to do?
If you participate in this project, you will be asked to take a telephone survey. Taking part in this survey means you agree to take part in this research, that you are at least 18 years old, and have understood this consent.

Taking part in this study is your choice.
Your participation in the project is completely voluntary.

Why is this study being done?
The purpose of this project is to understand the perceptions and preferences of Hawaiʻi residents to better inform how the state, counties, and other stakeholders prepare for sea level rise. To this end, we will share the findings of this study with policymakers and other stakeholder through the publication of reports and academic papers that analyze the findings of this survey. These publications will also be made publicly available.

The goals of this project are as follows:

• Better understand what residents know about sea level rise as an environmental change in Hawai‘i.
• Understand perceived risks, harm, and consequences that sea level rise and coastal flooding bring.
• Explore perceptions related to local government’s responsibility in addressing sea level rise.
• Understand policy preferences as it relates to home insurance, government spending, and coastal maintenance and prevention.
• Compare insights from local and national studies.

What will happen if I decide to take part in this study?
The survey will consist of about 30 multiple choice questions. The survey will include questions like 1) How concerned are you about sea level rise? 2) Where do you get your information about sea level rise? And 3) What policy approaches are you generally in favor of supporting?

What are the risks and benefits of taking part in this study?
There is little risk to you for participating in this research project. If you become uncomfortable answering any of the questions, you can skip the question or take a break. You may stop participating at any time. If you stop being in the study, there will be no penalty to you.

There will be no direct benefit to you for completing the survey. However, the findings will provide a “temperature check” for Hawaiʻi’s community—a snapshot of how you and other residents around the state perceive the risks involved with rising sea levels. In addition, the findings of this study will be compared with similar academic studies across other US States and internationally to aid in larger scale understanding how the public and policymakers are thinking and planning for sea level rise.

Results of Research:
The research results will be published and made available on the Institute for Sustainability and Resilience website at https://manoa.hawaii.edu/isr/.

Confidentiality and Privacy:
You will not be asked for your name or other identifying information. Only researchers in this study will have access to the data that will be kept in a password protected computer. Other agencies that have legal permission have the right to review research records. The University of Hawai'i Human Studies Program has the right to review research records for this study.

Compensation:
As a thank you for your participation, we are offering a $5 e-gift card from your choice of a number of popular retailers or contribution to the Hawaii Community Foundation’s Maui Strong Fund. Please allow 5 to 7 days for processing of the e-gift card. You are not required to finish the survey in order to receive the gift card, but must qualify for the survey in order to receive it.

Future Research Studies:
The data may be used for future research studies or distributed to another investigator for future research studies and we will not seek further approval from you for these future studies.

Questions:
If you have any questions, you may contact the lead researcher, Ketty Loeb, Ph.D. at kloeb@hawaii.edu or 808.956.9202. You may also contact the UH Human Studies Program at 808.956.5007 or uhirb@hawaii.edu to discuss problems, concerns and questions, obtain information, or offer input with an informed individual who is unaffiliated with the specific research protocol. Please visit http://go.hawaii.edu/jRd for more information on your rights as a research participant.