The Sexual Compatibility Project

The Relationship Decisions Lab at Western University is recruiting couples (including casual and CNM relationships) for a large-scale Non-Medical Research Ethics Board [REB: 120858] approved study on sexual relationship experiences.

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This study is part of a series of studies to investigate how people vary in terms of sexual preferences. What do people tend to enjoy in the bedroom, how do those preferences differ across different groups of people, and how might such preferences align (or not) within romantic couples?

 

To be eligible to participate, you and your partner must meet the following criteria:

1. You must currently be coupled (i.e.,

2. You must be at least 18 years of age.

3. Fluent in English

 

What the study entails. If you agree to participate, you and your partner will be asked to complete two separate and identical confidential online surveys. The survey will take approximately 30 minutes to complete, and you will both be asked a series of questions about yourselves, your partners, your relationship with your partner, and your sexual preferences. Surveys will be sent to you via email using Qualtrics’ participant mailing list feature.

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Risks and Benefits of Participation. Please be aware that there are several questions are of a personal nature that have the potential to cause discomfort or be emotionally upsetting or triggering. We will be asking you about your perceptions of your own and your partner’s sexual preferences for a wide variety of sexual behaviours and activities. These contain explicit language, adult themes, and detailed descriptions. This study may also cause you to reflect on the nature of your relationship with your partner. We encourage you to use your discretion in deciding whether to tell your partner about your survey responses after participating in this study. All data will be kept confidential and be de-identified so that your survey responses cannot be linked back to any of your personal information.

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If for any reason you experience discomfort, you are free to skip the question(s) or withdraw at any time. Additionally, if you experience discomfort and would like to talk with someone about any emotions that the study may have evoked, we recommend contacting a local mental health hotline or service provider. Below is a list of websites that can direct you to resources in your area:

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• United States: https://www.thehotline.org/

• Canada: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/mental-health-services/mental-health-get-help.html

• International: https://findahelpline.com/

 

You and your partner may not directly benefit from participating in this study, but your participation will contribute meaningfully to our understanding of how one’s perceptions of sexual preferences may be associated with sexual satisfaction and relationship quality.

 

Compensation.  All compensation will be emailed to participants as Amazon gift cards. Participation in the research study will grant you entry to a draw for one of four $100.00 CAD/USD Amazon Gift Cards. Couples who both respond to the study will both be granted a bonus entry – for a total of two each. You are not required to complete all the questions to be eligible for the gift card draw. You can withdraw from the survey, at any time, by simply exiting your browser window. Withdrawing from the survey will not jeopardize your survey compensation.

 

Contact Us. If you have any questions about the study, your primary contact is Devinder Khera at dkhera@uwo.ca or you can email the Principal Investigator, Dr. Samantha Joel at sjoel2@uwo.ca.

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Screening Questionnaire Privacy Details. By providing the researchers with your contact information (i.e., first name and email address) you are consenting to having your contact information entered into Qualtrics’ Participant Mailing List feature (if eligible). This feature will allow us to automatically send you the weekly survey links. Your survey responses and contact information will not be linked. Further, your contact information will not be retained for any purpose beyond this research study. At the conclusion of the study your contact information (e.g., email address) will be destroyed.

 

You can review Qualtrics’ privacy statement at https://www.qualtrics.com/privacy-statement for further information.

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Thank you for your interest, you should hear from us shortly.