TITLE OF RESEARCH STUDY: (1) Predictors of golf handicap: Pre-performance routines, pre-putt anxiety, and pre-putt confidence, and (2) The influence of positive self-talk on anxiety and confidence in golf putting.
RESEARCH TEAM: The principal investigator is Dr. Scott Martin, Department of Kinesiology, Health Promotion, and Recreation. Dr. Scott Martin’s phone number is (940) 565-4904 and his email address is Scott.Martin@unt.edu. The primary contacts are Lauren Greenspoon and Elizabeth McCloskey, Department of Kinesiology, Health Promotion, and Recreation. Lauren’s phone number is (713) 417-2037 and her email address is lauren.greenspoon@unt.edu. Elizabeth’s phone number is (972) 363-9687 and her email address is elizabeth.mccloskey@unt.edu.
You are being asked to participate in a research study. Taking part in this study is voluntary. The investigators will explain the study to you and will any answer any questions you might have. It is your choice whether or not you take part in this study. If you agree to participate and then choose to withdraw from the study, that is your right, and your decision will not be held against you.
You are being asked to take part in a research study about your golf experience, confidence, anxiety, and use of a routine and self-talk when you play.
Your participation in this research study involves you completing an online survey that will take approximately 15 minutes of your time. More details will be provided in the next section.
You might want to participate in this study if you want to share your views and golf experiences, and increase the knowledge of anxiety, confidence, and use of self-talk and routines.However, you might not want to participate in this study if you do not have the time to complete the survey in its entirety.
You may choose to participate in this research study if you are above the age of 18 years old and know your USGA handicap or average score for 18 holes.
The reasonable foreseeable risks or discomforts to you if you choose to take part include risks to confidentiality similar to a person’s everyday use of the internet. This project is not expected to be of any direct benefit to you, but we hope to learn more about your golf experience, confidence, anxiety, and use of a routine and self-talk when you play.
DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT THIS RESEARCH STUDY: The following is more detailed information about this study, in addition to the information listed above.
PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: The purpose of the present study is two-fold: (1) To understand whether the use of pre-performance routines, pre-putt anxiety, and pre-putt confidence predicts golf handicap, (2) To understand the influence of positive self-talk on confidence and anxiety in putting.
TIME COMMITMENT: Participation in the study is expected to last 15 minutes.
STUDY PROCEDURES: After receiving information from golf course personnel, the researchers will email golf course personnel a copy of an email that will be forwarded directly to the members at the courses or athletes on their teams/organizations. The email, which you have received, will include a description of the study and a hyperlink to access the survey. The survey will be administered through an online platform called Qualtrics and takes approximately 15 minutes to complete. After reading this informed consent, you will be prompted to click yes if you would like to proceed. Clicking yes will demonstrate your consent to participate in the study.
POSSIBLE BENEFITS: This project is not expected to be of any direct benefit to you, but we hope to learn more about your golf experience, confidence, anxiety, and use of a routine and self-talk when you play.
POSSIBLE RISKS/DISCOMFORTS: Participation in this online survey involves risks to confidentiality similar to a person’s everyday use of the Internet and that there is always a risk of breach of confidentiality.
Participating in research may involve a loss of privacy and the potential for a breach in confidentiality. Study data will be physically and electronically secured by the research team. As with any use of electronic means to store data, there is a risk of breach of data security.
If you experience excessive discomfort when completing the research activity, you may choose to stop participating at any time without penalty. The researchers will try to prevent any problem that could happen, but the study may involve risks to the participant, which are currently unforeseeable. UNT does not provide medical services, or financial assistance for emotional distress or injuries that might happen from participating in this research. If you need to discuss your discomfort further, please contact a mental health provider, or you may contact the researcher who will refer you to appropriate services. If your need is urgent, helpful resources include the Denton County MHMR Crisis hotline at 1-800-762-0157.
COMPENSATION: There is no compensation for participating in this study.
CONFIDENTIALITY: Efforts will be made by the research team to keep your personal information private, including research study records, and disclosure will be limited to people who have a need to review this information. All paper and electronic data collected from this study will be stored in a secure location on the UNT campus and/or a secure UNT server for at least three (3) years past the end of this research password protected computer in PI’s campus office. Research records will be labeled with a code and the master key linking names with codes will be maintained in a separate and secure location.
Participation in this online survey involves the potential for the loss of confidentiality similar to a person’s everyday use of the internet.
The results of this study may be published and/or presented without naming you as a participant. The data collected about you for this study may be used for future research studies that are not described in this consent form. If that occurs, an IRB would first evaluate the use of any information that is identifiable to you, and confidentiality protection would be maintained.
While absolute confidentiality cannot be guaranteed, the research team will make every effort to protect the confidentiality of your records, as described here and to the extent permitted by law. In addition to the research team, the following entities may have access to your records, but only on a need-to-know basis: the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the FDA (federal regulating agencies), the reviewing IRB, and sponsors of the study.
This research uses a third party software called Qualtrics and is subject to the privacy policies of this software noted here: https://www.qualtrics.com/support/survey-platform/getting- started/data-protection-privacy/
CONTACT INFORMATION FOR QUESTIONS ABOUT THE STUDY: If you have any questions about the study you may contact Lauren Greenspoon at lauren.greenspoon@unt.eduor (713) 417-2037, or Elizabeth McCloskey at elizabeth.mccloskey@unt.edu or (972) 363-9687. You may also contact Dr. Scott Martin at scott.martin@unt.eduor (940) 565-4904. Any questions you have regarding your rights as a research subject, or complaints about the research may be directed to the Office of Research Integrity and Compliance at 940-565-4643, or by email at untirb@unt.edu.