International Survey Information Sheet
Maternal Journal
International Survey of Practitioners
Information for participants (02/07/2024)
Researchers at the University of Sheffield invite you to take part in the Maternal Journal Practitioner Survey research project.
Before you decide whether or not to participate, it is important to understand why the research is being done and what it will involve. Please take time to read the following information carefully and decide whether or not you wish to take part. Discuss it with others first, if you wish, and ask us if there is anything that is not clear or if you would like more information (contact details below).
What is the project’s purpose?
This project is exploring Maternal Journal (https://www.maternaljournal.org/) – an international movement for creative journaling for mothers and birthing parents which began in 2017. Our aim is to find out where practitioners are using Maternal Journal materials, the kinds of creative activities taking place, motivations for leading a Maternal Journal group, resources being accessed, and the languages and cultural/intercultural contexts for Maternal Journal. It is being undertaken by a research team who are interested in arts and health and how creative journaling is being used in different ways to support mothers and birthing parents.
We are therefore running an online international survey during October / November / December 2024 to gather information. It is open to all practitioners using Maternal Journal.
Following this, we will undertake more in-depth interviews with around 10 survey participants who have indicated their willingness to be contacted about contributing further in this way. The interviews will take place between January 2025 and December 2025. There is no obligation to do an interview and you can just take part in the survey if you wish.
The research team will analyse the survey and interview data and produce a report and scholarly publications.
Why have I been approached?
You have been approached to take part in the survey because you are a practitioner who is currently using Maternal Journal activities, or because you have used Maternal Journal activities in the past. You may have also participated in a Maternal Journal training course, or you may be thinking about using Maternal Journal activities in the future.
Do I have to take part?
It is up to you to decide whether or not to take part. If you do, you will be given a copy of this information to keep and be asked to sign a consent form. If you change your mind, you can withdraw at any time before the survey ends without any negative consequences. You do not have to give a reason. If you wish to withdraw from the research, please contact the project leader, Dr Jessica Bradley Jessica.bradley@sheffield.ac.uk.
Please note that that by choosing to participate in this research, this will not create a legally binding agreement, nor is it intended to create an employment relationship between you and the University of Sheffield.
What do I have to do if I take part?
You will be asked to fill in an online questionnaire about your involvement with Maternal Journal. The questionnaire asks about things like how you found out about Maternal Journal, what kinds of activities you lead, and your training, motivations, and future plans and ideas.
You will also be asked if you would be willing to be contacted again for a follow-up interview. This will be undertaken by a member of the research team in the period January - December 2025. The interview will take place using online meeting software, as needed, and will be recorded.
The audio recording of the interview recordings will be used for analysis and may be used to illustrate conference presentations, talks and lectures. No other use will be made of recordings, and no one outside the project will have access to them, without your written permission.
What are the possible disadvantages or risks if I take part?
There are no foreseeable discomforts, disadvantages or risks related to taking part. You will be notified of any changes to this. If anything adverse arises as a result of the project, you should contact the lead researcher, Dr Jessica Bradley, at jessica.bradley@sheffield.ac.uk.
What are the possible benefits of taking part?
Whilst there are no immediate benefits for those people participating in the project other than a chance to take stock of your involvement with Maternal Journal, your involvement will help us understand the scope and scale of the Maternal Journal movement across the world, and its impact.
Will my taking part in this project be kept confidential?
All the information that we collect about you during the course of the research will be kept strictly confidential and will only be accessible to members of the research team at the University of Sheffield. You will be identified by a pseudonym in all public outputs, such as reports and publications.
What is the legal basis for processing my personal data?
According to data protection legislation, we are required to inform you that the legal basis for processing your personal data is that ‘processing is necessary for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest’ (Article 6(1)(e)). As some of this information may be that defined as ‘special category’ data, the legal basis for processing it is ‘for archiving purposes in the public interest, scientific research purposes or statistical purposes'. Further information can be found in the University’s Privacy Notice https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/govern/data-protection/privacy/general.
What will happen to the data collected, and the results of the research project?
The data generated in the study will be held securely stored and backed up at the University of Sheffield and accessed by the research team. Your responses to the survey will be assigned a pseudonym when you complete it and this pseudonym will be used in public outputs.
Interviews will be transcribed and interviewees will likewise be known by a pseudonym. The results of the project will be circulated widely. They will be written up as a report aimed at stakeholders in general, and as an academic publication.
In addition, the data analysis and findings will be presented in visual ways on different platforms, including the University website, blogs and Maternal Journal webpages. They will also be shared on social media. For example, we might create a map which shows the different countries and cities in which Maternal Journal and associated activities are being used by practitioners.
Names and personal data of survey participants will be deleted at the end of the project (31/12/2025). Consent forms and survey data will be destroyed three years after end of project (31/12/2028). Data visualisation, analysis and write ups will continue to be held and will be in the public domain in the project outputs.
Who is organising and funding the research?
The research is funded by the School of Education at The University of Sheffield.
Who is the Data Controller?
The University of Sheffield 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.
Who has ethically reviewed the project?
This project has been ethically approved by the University of Sheffield’s Ethics Review Procedure, as administered by the School of Education department. The University’s Research Ethics Committee monitors the application and delivery of the University’s Ethics Review Procedure across the University.
What if something goes wrong and I wish to complain about the research or report a concern or incident?
It you are dissatisfied with any aspect of the research or wish to make a complaint, please contact Dr Jessica Bradley (Jessica.bradley@sheffield.ac.uk) in the first instance. If you feel your complaint has not been handled in a satisfactory way, you can contact the Head of the School of Education, Professor Rebecca Lawthom (r.lawthom@sheffield.ac.uk). If the complaint relates to how your personal data has been handled, you can find information about how to raise a complaint in the University’s Privacy Notice: https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/govern/data-protection/privacy/general.
If you wish to make a report of a concern or incident relating to potential exploitation, abuse or harm resulting from your involvement in this project, please contact the project’s Designated Safeguarding Contact Dr Jessica Bradley (Jessica.bradley@sheffield.ac.uk). If the concern or incident relates to the Designated Safeguarding Contact, or if you feel a report you have made to this contact has not been handled in a satisfactory way, please contact the Head of the School of Education, Professor Rebecca Lawthom (r.lawthom@sheffield.ac.uk) and/or the University’s Research Ethics & Integrity Manager (Lindsay Unwin; l.v.unwin@sheffield.ac.uk).
Contact for further information
Dr Jessica Bradley, Senior Lecturer in Literacies and Language, School of Education, The University of Sheffield - Jessica.bradley@sheffield.ac.uk
If you decided to take part in the project, you will be asked to sign a consent form and receive a copy of the information above and your completed consent form to keep. (There will be a separate consent form if you take part in an interview.)
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