Information Sheet
for young people under 16 years old
Title: Finding out some of the reasons young people get involved in crime
Name, Work Address and Contact
Details of the Researchers Lisa Smith and Ruth Dawson,
Sub-Department of Clinical Health Psychology, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT.
You are being invited to take part in a research study. You should only take part if you want to, it is up to you. You will not lose out if you choose not to take part. Before you decide whether you want to take part, it is important for you to read the following information carefully so that you understand why the research is being done and what it will involve. Ask us if there is anything that is not clear or if you would like more information.
What are the researchers trying to find out?
We are asking if you want to join in a research project to find the answer to the question ‘What are some of the reasons that young people get involved in crime?’
It has been suggested that a number of things may play a vital role in influencing whether young people get involved in crime. We want to look more closely at what some of these things are. The findings may be able to help young people who get involved in crime.
What will I be asked to do if I take part?
You will be interviewed by one of the researchers who will complete five
questionnaires with you. After this you will be asked to do a task on a computer. One of the questionnaires will ask about your beliefs about the importance of material things. One of the questionnaires will ask you about your involvement in different types of criminal activity. Another questionnaire will ask you about your character and two questionnaires will ask about the type of relationships you have with people. The
computer task is a simple task where you will be asked to do things like pressing a button to inflate a balloon on the screen. In total you will be spending about 1 hour with the researchers.
Another important part of the study involves the researchers getting information about your criminal history and history in general from your files at the centre.
Why have I been asked to take part?
You have been invited to join our study because you are a young person currently living in this secure training centre. We hope that around 80 young people will choose to participate in the project. Other young people in the centre has been asked too.
Do I have to take part?
No. It is up to you. We will ask you for your consent and then ask if you will sign a form. If you are under 16 years old we will also ask a senior member of staff from Rainsbrook to sign a consent form to say that you can participate in the project. We will give you a copy of this information sheet and your signed consent form to keep.
You are free to stop taking part at any time in the research without giving a reason. If you decide to stop, this will not affect the care you receive at Rainsbrook.
Will my answers be shared with anyone else?
No, all your answers will be made anonymous and kept confidential. This means that it will only be used for the project and will not be seen by other people in the centre.
The only time we would tell a member of staff at Rainsbrook about what you tell us in the interviews is if it is about you being at risk of being hurt, others are at risk of being hurt or you tell us about a serious, violent or sexual crime that you have done, for example, an armed robbery or a stabbing that has not been recorded before.
The written information will be locked away and access will be restricted to the project researchers. Information kept on the computer will be coded by a number a system so that you can not be identified. All data will be collected and stored in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998. The information will not be used for any other purpose.
What are possible good and bad things about taking part?
questions make you feel upset, you can refuse to answer. You can also talk to Lisa or Ruth (the researchers) or your key worker so that they can help you if you are upset.
Who can I talk to if I have more questions?
If you have any other questions, you can contact Lisa and Ruth by e-mail
([email protected]) or you can ask your key worker to pass on a question.
Will I hear about what the research finds out?
Yes, can ask to be told about what the research finds out and you will be able to ask questions if you want to.
Who has said that this project can go ahead?
Before any research goes ahead it has to be checked by a research ethics committee.
They make sure that the research is fair. This study has been checked and given the go ahead by the University College London Research Ethics Committee.
Who are we?
Our names are Lisa Smith and Ruth Dawson. We are both Doctoral research students at University College London.
Thank you for reading this information sheet
Informed Consent Form
for young people under 16 years old
Please complete this form after you have read the Information Sheet and/or listened to an explanation about the research.
Title of Project:
Finding out some of the reasons young people get involved in crime
Thank you for your interest in taking part in this research. If you have any questions about the consent form or explanation already given to you, please ask the
researchers before you to decide whether you would like to participate.
Researchers: Ruth Dawson and Lisa Smith
Supervised by: Dr Stephen Butler (University College London) and Kerry Heathcote (Chartered Psychologist at Rainsbrook STC)
Participant’s statement I... (print your full name in capital letters)
Have read the information sheet YES NO
Understand what the research is about YES NO
Have been able to ask questions about the research YES NO and am pleased with how my questions have been answered
Agree that my file can be read by the researchers YES NO in order to get any background information necessary
for the research and give permission for the researchers to have access to my notes
Understand that whether or not I take part will not YES NO make any difference to my treatment in the centre
Agree to take part in the study YES NO
Signed………
Signature of witnessing staff/researcher
………Date………
*CONFIDENTIALITY AND DATA PROTECTION*
- Information from the study will be kept in a locked filing cabinet
- Information kept on computer will be coded so that individual names cannot be identified
- This study complies with the Data Protection Act (1998).
You will be given a copy of this Consent Form to keep and refer to at any time.
Information Sheet for Secure Training Centre
Title: Finding out some of the reasons young people get involved in crime
Name, Work Address and Contact Details of the Researchers
Lisa Smith and Ruth Dawson, Sub-Department of Clinical Health Psychology, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT.
Young people are being invited to take part in a research project at Rainsbrook Secure Training Centre. Given that Rainsbrook acts as ‘Loco Parentis’ for the young people it is essential that we gain informed consent from a named person in the centre in order for young people under 16 years of age to take part. It is only when consent has been gained from the centre and the young person themselves that the young person will be able to participate in the research project. It is important for you to read the following information carefully. They should only participate if they want to; choosing not to take part will not disadvantage them in any way.
Ask us if there is anything that is not clear or you would like more information.
What are the researchers trying to find out?
We are asking young people who have committed crimes and are being detained at
Rainsbrook to join in a research project to find the answer to the question ‘What are some of the reasons that young people get involved in crime?’
It has been suggested that a number of things may play a vital role in influencing whether young people get involved in crime. We want to look more closely at what some of these things are. The findings may be able to help young people who get involved in crime.
What will the young people be asked to do?
They will be asked to attend an interview with the researchers and will complete five
questionnaires. They will also be asked to do a task on a computer. One of the questionnaires will ask about their beliefs about the importance of material things. The other questionnaires
as background information and offence history, from the young person’s file at the centre.
Do the young people have to take part?
No. A named person in Rainsbrook who are acting as their ‘Loco Parentis’ and the young person can decide whether they take part. If a named person in Rainsbrook decides that a young person can take part they will need to sign a consent form acting as their ‘Loco Parentis’. The young person also needs to sign a consent form in order to take part. The young person will be free to withdraw from the study at any time if they wish to do so.
Will information collected for the study be shared with anyone else?
No, all the information gathered for the study will be kept safely and confidential. The data will be anonymised and no data on individual young people will be shared in any way with people in the centre. The only time we would tell a member of staff at Rainsbrook about what the young people tell us in the interviews is if it is about them being at risk of being hurt, others are at risk of being hurt or if they tell us about a serious, violent or sexual crime that they have done, for example, an armed robbery or a stabbing that has not been recorded before. All data will be collected and stored in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998.
What are possible risks and benefits of taking part?
All of the young people who take part in the research will be entered in a raffle as a thank you for taking part. This will mean they have the chance to win a voucher for a high street shop (either: £25, £20 or £15). They will also have the chance to win a gift voucher worth £10 if they gain the highest score on the computer task.
Although it is unlikely, if any of the questions make the young people feel upset, they will be encouraged to come and talk to Lisa or Ruth (the researchers) or their key worker at the centre so that they can provide help.
Will I be informed about what the research finds out?
Yes, Rainsbrook will be provided with a summary of what the research finds out.
Who can I contact for more information?
If you have more questions, you can contact Lisa and Ruth by e-mail
([email protected]) or by post (see address at head of this sheet).
Who has said that this project can go ahead?
Before any research goes ahead it has to be checked by a research ethics committee. They make sure that the research is fair. This study has been checked and given approval to go
ahead by the University College London Research Ethics Committee.
Who are we?
Our names are Lisa Smith and Ruth Dawson. We are both Doctoral research students at University College London.
Thank you for reading this information sheet
Informed Consent Form for
Rainsbrook Secure Training Centre acting as ‘Loco Parentis’ of young people under 16
Please complete this form after you have read the Information Sheet and/or listened to an explanation about the research.
Title of Project:
Finding out some of the reasons young people get involved in crime
Researchers: Ruth Dawson and Lisa Smith
Supervised by: Dr Stephen Butler (University College London) and Kerry Heathcote (Chartered Psychologist at Rainsbrook STC) I... (print your full name)
Have read the information sheet
Understand that whether or not the young person takes part it will not make any difference to their treatment
Understand what the research is about
Have been able to ask questions about the research and I am satisfied with how my questions have been answered
Agree that the young persons file can be read by the researchers in order to get any background information
Agree that the young person can take part in the study necessary for the research and give permission for the researchers to have access to the young persons notes in the centre
Understand that the young person can withdraw from the study at any time without giving a reason
That the young person can take part in the study
Signed………Date………
*CONFIDENTIALITY AND DATA PROTECTION*
- Information from the study will be kept in a locked filing cabinet
- Information kept on computer will be coded so that individual names cannot be identified
- This study complies with the Data Protection Act (1998).
You will be given a copy of this Consent Form to keep and refer to at any time.
Information Sheet
for young people over 16 years old
Title: Finding out some of the reasons young people get involved in crime
Name, Work Address and Contact Details of the Researchers
Lisa Smith and Ruth Dawson,
Sub-Department of Clinical Health Psychology, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT.
You are being invited to take part in a research study. You should only take part if you want to, it is your decision. You will not lose out if you choose not to take part.
Before you decide whether you want to take part, it is important for you to read the following information carefully so that you understand why the research is being carried out and what it will involve. Ask us if there is anything that you do not understand or if you would like more information.
What are the researchers trying to find out?
We are asking if you want to join in a research project to find the answer to the question ‘What are some of the reasons that young people get involved in crime?’
It has been suggested that a number of things may play a vital role in influencing whether young people get involved in crime. We want to look more closely at what some of these things are. The findings may be able to help young people who get involved in crime.
What will I be asked to do if I take part?
You will be interviewed by one of the researchers who will complete five questionnaires with you. After this you will be asked to complete a task on a computer. One of the questionnaires will ask about your beliefs about the importance of material things. One of the questionnaires will ask you about your involvement in different types of criminal activity. Another questionnaire will ask you about your character and two questionnaires will ask about the type of
relationships you have with people. The computer task is a simple task where you will be asked to do things like pressing a button to inflate a balloon on the screen.
In total you will be spending about 1 hour with the researchers.
Another important part of the study involves the researchers getting information about your criminal history and history in general from your files at the centre.
Why have I been asked to take part?
You have been invited to join our study because you are a young person currently living in this secure training centre. We hope that around 80 young people will choose to participate in the project. Other young people in the centre has been asked too.
Do I have to take part?
No. It is your decision. We will ask you for your consent and then ask if you will sign a form. We will give you a copy of this information sheet and your signed consent form to keep. You are free to stop taking part at any time in the research without giving a reason. If you decide to stop, this will not affect the care you receive at Rainsbrook.
Will my answers be shared with anyone else?
No, all your answers will be made anonymous and kept confidential. This means that it will only be used for the project and will not be seen by other people in the
centre. The only time we would tell a member of staff at Rainsbrook about what you tell us in the interviews is if it is about you being at risk of being hurt, others are at risk of being hurt or you tell us about a serious, violent or sexual crime that you have done, for example, an armed robbery or a stabbing that has not been recorded before.
The written information will be locked away and access will be restricted to the project researchers. Information kept on the computer will be coded by a number a system so that you can not be identified. All data will be collected and stored in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998. The information will not be used for any other purpose.
What are possible good and bad things about taking part?
Everyone will be entered in a raffle as a thank you for taking part. This will give you
questions make you feel upset, you can refuse to answer. You can also talk to Lisa or Ruth (the researchers) or your key worker so that they can help you if you are upset.
Who can I talk to if I have more questions?
If you have any other questions, you can contact Lisa and Ruth by e-mail ([email protected]) or you can ask your key worker to pass on a question.
Will I hear about what the research finds out?
Yes, can ask to be told about what the research finds out and you will be able to ask questions if you want to.
Who has said that this project can go ahead?
Before any research goes ahead it has to be checked by a research ethics
committee. They make sure that the research is fair. This study has been checked
committee. They make sure that the research is fair. This study has been checked