Study Information Sheet

Project Title: Sex in the City
Principle Researchers
Associate Professor Grant Devilly Griffith Criminology Institute & School of Applied Psychology, Griffith University, Mt Gravatt, 4122. Phone: (07) 3735 3309 Email: g.devilly@griffith.edu.au	Associate Professor Fiona Barlow School of Psychology Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, 4072. Phone: (07) 3735 3309 Email: f.barlow@psy.uq.edu.au
Dr Michael Thai School of Psychology Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, 4072. Phone: (07) 3735 3309 Email: m.thai@uq.edu.au	Acting Superintendent Corey Allen Queensland Police Academy, Queensland Police Service Ph: (07) 3246 8226 Email: Allen.CoreyM@police.qld.gov.au
Research Assistants & Masters / PhD Candidates:
Hannah Copeland Griffith Criminology Institute & School of Applied Psychology, Griffith University, Mt Gravatt Campus Mt Gravatt, Qld 4122. Phone: (07) 3735 3309 Email: research@sexinthecityresearch.com	Leanne Tomkins Griffith Criminology Institute & School of Applied Psychology, Griffith University, Mt Gravatt Campus Mt Gravatt, Qld 4122. Phone: (07) 3735 3309 Email: research@sexinthecityresearch.com
Lee Hughes Griffith Criminology Institute & School of Applied Psychology, Griffith University, Mt Gravatt Campus Mt Gravatt, Qld 4122. Phone: (07) 3735 3309 Email: research@sexinthecityresearch.com	Jacob Sorbello Griffith Criminology Institute & School of Applied Psychology, Griffith University, Mt Gravatt Campus Mt Gravatt, Qld 4122. Phone: (07) 3735 3309 Email: research@sexinthecityresearch.com
Kelsey Nicholson Griffith Criminology Institute & School of Applied Psychology, Griffith University, Mt Gravatt Campus Mt Gravatt, Qld 4122. Phone: (07) 3735 3309 Email: research@sexinthecityresearch.com	Nick Szeszeran Griffith Criminology Institute & School of Applied Psychology, Griffith University, Mt Gravatt Campus Mt Gravatt, Qld 4122. Phone: (07) 3735 3309 Email: research@sexinthecityresearch.com
Khiarn Weaver Griffith Criminology Institute & School of Applied Psychology, Griffith University, Mt Gravatt Campus Mt Gravatt, Qld 4122. Phone: (07) 3735 3309 Email: research@sexinthecityresearch.com	Solveigh Brandhorst Griffith Criminology Institute & School of Applied Psychology, Griffith University, Mt Gravatt Campus Mt Gravatt, Qld 4122. Phone: (07) 3735 3309 Email: research@sexinthecityresearch.com
Matthew Anderson University of Queensland, St Lucia, 4072. Phone: (07) 3735 3309 Email: research@sexinthecityresearch.com

If you are reading this information sheet, then chances are that you were invited to take part in this research project. Please read this Participation Information carefully. Feel free to ask any questions about any information in the document via email to research@sexinthecityresearch.com

Participation in this research project was, and is, voluntary. If you do not wish to take part you are not obliged to do so. You must be at least 16 years old to participate in the survey. If you decide to take part and later change your mind, you are free to withdraw from the project at any stage and have any data obtained from you removed from our records. As this research is completely anonymous, we can only remove your data if you email us with your participant ID (on the back of the business card we would have given you) and the day and approximate time we interviewed you.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of alcohol on racial sexual preference with people in the Night-Time Entertainment District (NED). Previous research on preloading drugs and alcohol and end of night intoxication in the NED has found that sexual behaviours are mediated by inebriation level. It has also been found that some people selectively choose partners based upon race, however, it is unknown whether this racial sexual preference is affected by alcohol intoxication level.

In the last decade, online dating has overtaken previously preferred methods of meeting with potential partners, which is consistent with an increase in access to the internet in homes across the globes. Dating sites available to individuals differ in focus on age, gender, race, sexual orientation and ethnic background. Partner race is now the most selected preference when creating online profiles, and we wish to know whether these selections are enduring through a night out. The aim of this study is to understand the relationship between alcohol intoxication and racial sexual preference. Such information may be useful in a wide variety of settings, including clinical practice and public education. We do not know the results of this research yet but, for example, if there is an effect of alcohol in changing the threshold for racial-sexual preferences there is an argument that this is, therefore, not an innate phenomenon and open to change in therapy.

The current study measures individuals’ Blood approximated Breath Alcohol Concentration (BrAC) throughout the night in the NED. A stratified sample of people in Brisbane CBD and Valley are being offered the questionnaire and provided with free breathalysing. The questionnaire initially assesses people’s sexual orientation, sexual identity and general racial biases. The questionnaire then focusses on people’s racial-sexual preferences. It does this by showing four pictures of either men or women (depending on the individual’s preference), and then asking individuals to rate each face on: sexual attraction, their willingness to engage in sex, effort they would put in to try and have sex, and their likelihood of marrying someone from that race. The faces used were amalgamated faces from many faces from one specific race. The faces were of ‘average attractiveness’ across the races. Individuals who complete the survey are then breathalysed and informed of their BrAC.

This research will be eventually written-up for a project report and for a published article and may also form the basis of a student’s postgraduate thesis (e.g., Honours, Masters, or PhD thesis).

We hope the knowledge gained from this study will assist clinical practice and public education. However, we do not envisage any personal benefits you may experience yourself, over and above having the experience of being a research participant and being told your Blood Alcohol Concentration level.

This research is completely anonymous and we do not foresee any personal risks attached to taking part. However, some of the questions are personal in nature and some people may find them confronting. These include questions which cover racial sexual preferences and gender preferences. We also encourage people to complete these questions confidentially, not informing their friends of their answers while completing.

If any of the material in the questionnaires or the alcohol or drug testing raised any issues of concern for you, you are welcome to discuss them with the researchers. Likewise, if you require further information or have questions about the project, feel free to contact us via research@sexinthecityresearch.com. You can also obtain a access a plain language summary of the research results via email request.

Griffith University conducts research in accordance with the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research. If participants have any concerns or complaints about the ethical conduct of the research project, they should contact the Manager, Research Ethics on 07 3735 4375 or email at research-ethics@griffith.edu.au

Completion of this survey will be taken as your consent to participate in the research.