Study Title:  Lighting Analogue Mission Project (LAMP)

Researchers:

Principal Investigator: Renate Pohl (Associate Professor, Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador, Grenfell Campus Theatre Program)

[email: t26rp@mun.ca/ 709 636-6493]

Co-Investigator: Melissa Joakim (Independent Researcher/Professional Stage & Architectural Lighting Designer)

[email: mjoakim.to@gmail.com]

Research Assistant: Renee Snook (recent  Memorial University, Grenfell Campus graduate in Psychology/English)

[email: rlsnook@mun.ca]

What is this study about?

We invite you to take part in a research study exploring the effect of nature-like lighting patterns on the mood of people in an isolated and confined space, such as a mock-up or simulated space mission crew relaxation environment.

How many people will take part in this study?

This study will take place in Corner Brook, Newfoundland, Canada. We expect to enroll about 30 participants in this study.

Where is the study located?

This study will be in-person in the Fine Arts Theatre at Memorial University's Grenfell Campus in Corner Brook, Newfoundland. The campus address is 20 University Drive, Corner Brook, NL, A2H 5G4. The theatre entrance is on the second floor of the Fine Arts Building at Grenfell Campus.

What are the study dates and times?

The study takes place August 17-21, 2026, from 9:00am to 4:30pm. You may book a 1-hour slot to take part in the study by clicking on the blue button above, or by emailing Renate Pohl at t26rp@mun.ca, or by signing up for an appointment at this link: Appointment Booking Page. If the times suggested do not work for you, please contact Renate Pohl at t26rp@mun.ca and we will do our best to fit you at another time during the week. If all time slots are filled and you would like to take part in the study, please email Renate. We will put you on a waiting list and contact you if there is a cancellation.

What will participation involve?

If you agree to take part, we will invite you to spend time in a tent indoors by yourself. We will ask you to look at lighting patterns on the tent and answer simple questions about your mood (how you feel).

The total study time will last about 60 minutes. To begin, we will give you a brief introduction to the study and ask you to read and sign a consent form. This will take about 5 minutes.

Following this, we will ask you to relax on a comfortable cot inside a tent (a simulated space crew relaxation environment) set up in the Grenfell Campus Fine Arts Theatre and look at three different patterns of dappled light projected on the tent. You will be isolated with noise-suppressing earmuffs or earplugs during your time in the tent. You will be able to choose between earmuffs or earplugs. Time spent in the tent will be about 45 minutes in total. We will ask you to fill out a short and easy mood state questionnaire four times while in the tent. You will take these paper tests in full white light. You will take the first test immediately after entering the tent and lying down, before viewing any lighting patterns. You will then view three different patterns of light; after each 10-minute pattern viewing, the light will change to full white. This will signal you to take the mood test again. You will retake the test following each pattern viewing. You will have 4 minutes to complete the short test during each test period in full white light.

At the end of the study, there will be a brief interview of 5-10 minutes to discuss your experience. You may choose to write your answers on paper for the final interview, or be voice recorded. At the end of the study, we will offer you a light snack to go, as a thank you for taking part in the study.

Is participation voluntary?

Yes. Taking part in this study is voluntary. You do not have to take part in this research study. You are free to stop and withdraw from this study at any time. There will be no negative consequences if you choose to do so. Should you choose to withdraw from the study while in the tent, please simply exit the tent at any time and we will immediately turn on the lights in the theatre. We will remind you of this right to withdraw again before your short interview at the end of the study. If you would like to withdraw your data following the study, you may email Renate Pohl at t26rp@mun.ca and request to do so. When we receive your request, we will contact you by email to confirm this request, after which, we will delete your data immediately. There will be no negative consequences. Please note that since data will be confidential and combined with other data in the study analysis, it may not be possible to remove data from the study after 30 days following the study date.

How will you use the information?

We will use the information you share to help us understand if certain lighting patterns affect people’s mood in isolated and confined spaces. This may help with the design of future living spaces, such as space mission crew relaxation rooms, hospital rooms, or long-term care homes.

Are there risks?

There are no physical risks. Because you will be alone in a tent for 45 minutes within a darkened theatre space, and wearing earmuffs or earplugs, you may experience feelings of unease. Some questions may ask you to think about your mood, which may feel uncomfortable. You may skip any question on any questionnaire or in the interview. You may stop and exit the tent at any time if you choose to withdraw from the study.

Confidentiality risk: Despite protections being in place, there is a risk of unintentional release of information. Researchers will make every attempt to protect your privacy.

Inconvenience of time risk: There is an inconvenience of time. Each study visit will take about 60 minutes (one visit), for a total of 60 minutes for the entire research study.

Are there benefits?

There are no direct benefits to taking part in the study. However, doing so may help add to knowledge about the effects of light patterns on people’s wellbeing in isolated and confined living spaces, such as in space mission crew relaxation rooms, or spaces such as hospital and long-term care homes. This may help in future living space designs.

How will you protect my information and identity?

Your questionnaire answers and interview will be confidential. We will use an ID code on questionnaires and interview records instead of your name. We will present most data, except quotations, in a combined form. If you consent, we may use quotations from your interview to represent themes in the data, but we will not link the quote to you. In any reports coming from this study, we will not share your name or personal information.

Depending on your preference, you may write or voice record your exit interview answers. If you choose to voice record, we will use a password-protected iPhone for accurate voice to text transfer. We will move recordings to secure, password-protected digital cloud storage as soon as possible after the interview. We will delete recordings from the iPhone once the transfer is complete. We will use Apple’s voice to text tools. While these tools have privacy protections, there are limitations. The research team will take steps to reduce this risk by disabling cloud syncing. We will transfer files to secure storage as soon as possible. Once transferred, only the research team will have access to test data, interview recordings, or notes.

Study information collected during the study will be kept at this site and stored in a secure, locked place that only the study staff will be able to access. After the study closes, study information will be kept as long as required by law, which could be five years or more. This information will be stored in a locked cabinet in Renate Pohl’s office at Grenfell Campus. Digital files will be kept in a password-protected and secure Microsoft OneDrive folder, accessible only to research team members. Principal Investigator Renate Pohl is the person responsible for keeping the study information secure.

Who will see my personal information?

Representatives from the Health Research Ethics Board may come to look at the study records under the supervision of the study staff to check that the information collected for the study is correct and to make sure the study followed the required laws and guidelines.

What are my rights when participating in a research study?

You have the right to receive all information that could help you decide about taking part in this study, in a reasonable amount of time. You have the right to ask questions about this study at any time and to have them answered to your satisfaction. Federal and provincial laws legally protect your privacy rights.

Signing this form gives us your consent to be in this study. It tells us that you understand the information about the study. When you sign this form, you do not give up any of your legal rights for compensation. It does not release the researchers or involved institutions from their legal and professional responsibilities.

You have the right to know the results of this study when the entire study is complete. See the section below “How can I find out the results of the study?” for more information on this. 

We will give you a copy of the signed and dated consent form before you take part in this study.

How can I find out about the results of the study?

We will share a summary of the research results. We will share this by email if you consent to receive this information. You may also consent to receiving any future reports and papers. We will not identify you in any reports.

Questions or Concerns:

For questions about the study, please contact a member of the research team (contact info above).

The Health Research Ethics Board, appointed by Newfoundland and Labrador’s Health Research Ethics Authority (IRB00011348) has reviewed the proposal for this research and found it to be in line with their ethics policy. If you have ethical concerns or questions about your rights as a participant, please contact the Health Research Ethics Authority (www.hrea.ca) at info@hrea.ca or (709) 864-8871.

If you choose to take part in this study, we will ask you to sign a separate consent form. It states that you have read this information, had an opportunity to ask questions, and agree to participate.