CONSENT TO PARTICIPATE IN RESEARCH
Project Title: Conflict, Cooperation and Social Solidarity in Virtual Worlds
Researcher(s): Talmadge Wright
Introduction:
You are being asked to take part in a research study being conducted by Dr. Talmadge Wright, a
faculty member in the Department of Sociology at Loyola University of Chicago. You are being
asked to participate because you play World of Warcraft. However, you must be over 18 to
participate in this study. Please read this form carefully and ask any questions you may have
before deciding whether to participate in the study.
Purpose:
The goal of this study is to examine the types of social interactions, conflicts, degrees of
cooperation and forms of social solidarity in on-line multiplayer games, with a particular focus
on players of the game World of Warcraft. Through participant observation, in-depth on-line
interviews, I am hoping to demonstrate the types of social interactions prompted by the structure
of the technology and it’s potential for conflict resolution and cooperation.
Procedures:
If you agree to be in the study, you will be asked to participate in an interview with the
researcher using either private whispered chats that can be captured by screenshots or voice to
voice communication using a private server through Ventrilo. The interview will cover various
aspects of your experiences in playing the game, as well as background information on how you
became involved and what pleasure you get from playing. In addition, I will also be asking you
to judge your experiences with other players in the game their cooperation or conflicts. The
interviews should take about 20 minutes to a half hour. If you decide to use the whisper chat
function I will be taking screenshots of your replies and transcribing them comparing them with
the answers others have given. If you decide to use Vent I will be recording your voice for later
transcription. All screen shots, or audio-recording will be stored in a secure location and
destroyed at the end of the study.
Risks/Benefits:
There are no foreseeable risks involved in participating in this research beyond those
experienced in everyday life. There are no direct benefits to you from participating, however, the
knowledge we gain from this study has great social benefits. In particular, it will allow us to
outline the complexity of virtual social worlds and the benefits that come from playing such
games, in addition, to any cautions we should observe.
Confidentiality:
You confidentiality in responses will be protected and your avatar’s identity and/or real name
concealed in any published material that comes from this study. Confidentiality will be protected
to the degree allowed by whispered chats within WOW and/or through the use of Vent. When
the data is coded, all avatar names or guild names will be replaced with fictional names. All
audio recordings will be stored on the researcher’s private computer along with screenshots
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which will be transcribed into text interviews for analysis. All such confidential material will be
destroyed at the end of the study.
Voluntary Participation:
Participation in this study is voluntary. If you do not want to be in this study, you do not have to
participate. Even if you decide to participate, you are free not to answer any question or to
withdraw from participation at any time without penalty. If you are a member of a guild in
WOW, this interview will not effect that membership or its privileges in any way.
Contacts and Questions:
If you have questions about this research study, please feel free to contact Dr. Talmadge Wright
at (773) 508-3451 or twright@luc.edu.
If you have questions about your rights as a research participant, you may contact the
Compliance Manager in Loyola’s Office of Research Services at (773) 508-2689.
Statement of Consent:
If you agree to this procedure, you can simply say yes to the interview in the whisper chat
function, to the researcher, or verbally if you are using Vent to indicate your approval.
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