My name is CarrieLynn D. Reinhard, Ph.D. and I am a Professor of Communication Arts and Sciences at Dominican University.  I am conducting a research project as part of a larger study on the overlaps between fandoms, politics, and religions.  I am requesting your voluntary participation in my study surveying people’s political and religious beliefs along with their fandoms and fan activities. 

Participation in this study involves first completing a  questionnaire and/or self-interview about your fandom, political, and religious beliefs, feelings, and behaviors, as well as some demographic questions to be used for statistical purposes. Completing this questionnaire should last from 15-30 minutes. Completing the interview could be 15-45 minutes, and one person can submit multiple stories and experiences through the self-interview.

Use this link to access and start the questionnaire: https://dom.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1z5EYJxP5DsMRtY

Use this link to access and start the self-interview: https://dom.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_efEzS8F0eKltace

Please note that your participation is completely voluntary and you are free to withdraw your participation at any time.  Likewise, your participation or non-participation will not affect your class grade. In addition your survey responses are designed to be completed anonymously. Anonymity cannot be guaranteed, however, and in the unlikely event an identity becomes known, all information will be held as completely confidential. You only have to provide responses to the extent that you are comfortable doing so in both the questionnaire and the interview. You may complete this study at your own pace, dictating how to approach the answers.

If you choose to participate in this study, you will first see the informed consent form reiterating information provided here. Please review that information and indicate if you consent to allow your answers to be included in this study.   

If you have questions about the research you may contact me at the email address below.  If you have further questions, you may contact the Dominican University Institutional Review Board (IRB), which is concerned with the protection of volunteers in research projects. If you prefer not to, you may contact the Dominican University Institutional Review Board (IRB) which is concerned with the protection of volunteers in research projects. You can reach the IRB Administrator by email at irbadministrator@dom.edu, or by mail at IRB Administration, Office of Research and Sponsored Projects, Dominican University, 7900 W. Division Street, River Forest, IL 60305.

If you would like to know the results of this study as it progresses and once it is completed, please follow this website, www.playingwithresearch.com, or our discussion on Twitter/X https://twitter.com/PoliReliFandom. 

Thank you in advance for your participation.  

Sincerely, 

CarrieLynn D. Reinhard

Communication Arts and Department, Dominican University 

7900 W. Division Street

River Forest, IL 60305 

Email address: creinhard@dom.edu