Hello, my name is Erin C. Falvey, and I am a student at San Diego State
University and Claremont Graduate
University completing my
doctorate in education. I am conducting a qualitative study which focuses upon
the experiences of same-sex couples who are legally married in California. The results
will be reported in a publication that I am completing as a requirement of my
graduate program.
If you and your same-sex partner are legally married in California, I would like
to invite you to be a research participant in this study. The purpose of this
study is to construct a greater understanding of how legally married same-sex
couples describe and navigate their experiences as a married couple. I will
interview you and ask questions related to your experiences. This may include
questions about your family, friends, and community. The interview should take
approximately 1 to 1.5 hours to complete. Interviews will take place at my office
located in Mission
Valley. The address is
2835 Camino del Rio South, Suite
120-C, San
Diego, CA 92108.
I will be videotaping the conversation as well as taking
notes to ensure that I have accurately documented your story. In order to
ensure the accuracy of my report, I will provide you with a draft for you to
review and provide feedback or corrections to the content prior to its
completion.
You will also be invited to participate in a follow-up focus
group with other participants in the study. The follow-up focus group will be
approximately 1.5 hours in duration and will take place a few weeks after the
completion of your interview. The purpose of this meeting will be to share and
discuss the themes which emerged from the interviews in order to get a more in
depth understanding of your experiences. Participation in the follow-up focus
group is not a mandatory component of your participation in the study and one
or both of you may choose to participate in this portion of the study. I will
also be videotaping the follow-up focus group conversation as well as taking
notes to ensure that I have accurately documented the meeting.
The study will also include a brief demographic survey which
will ask questions regarding your history and background. Space will also be
provided for you to include any further demographic information that you would
like to include about yourself. This survey will take about 10 minutes to
complete.
Participants will not be paid for their participation in
this study.
Your participation in this study is voluntary. If you decide
to participate, your responses will be confidential- that is, recorded without
any identifying information that is linked to you. Your confidentiality will be
maintained to the extent allowed by law. I will use a pseudonym in my final
report when referring to your responses.
Risks and Benefits to Your Participation:
Risks: It is possible that some areas of the interviews related to your
personal experiences may generate some discomfort. If you begin to feel
uncomfortable during your participation, you may discontinue participation
either temporarily or permanently.
Benefits: A potential benefit of your participation in this
research is that this study may further mental health professional’s
understandings of the experiences and strengths of same-sex couples and enhance
their ability to work with lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals, couples, and
families.
IF YOU AND YOUR SPOUSE ARE INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING, PLEASE CONTACT:
Erin C. Falvey, MA MFT
Doctoral Candidate SDSU & CGU
e-mail: erin@narrativetherapysd.com
Phone #
(619) 261-4221
