Research background and information sheet

Thank you for the interest you have shown in taking part in this research project. Before you agree to participate, I would like you to read through the following information which will help to explain the project in more detail and what I’d like your input to be. If you have any questions about the project, or the nature of your participation which are not answered here, please do feel free to get in touch (contact details can be found at the end of this document).

Aims of the project

The broad aim of the project is to determine how people perceive information found on social networking sites and help find ways in which policies can be made to help curb the spread of false information on these sites. The main focus is on quantitative research, because I think this kind of research can be best determined by quantifying the number of people affected by false information. I am also interested in finding out whether people are able to detect when wrongful information is placed on these sites. By understanding these dynamics, it is hoped that I will be able to analyse them, and aid policy makers in the Information Technology world.

The researcher

My name is xxxx xxxxx and I am a student at NTU, where I study International Relations. In addition to learning concepts that keeps the international system in order, I have an interest in the Information Technology world. A combination of all of these interests led to the rationale of this research project.

Your contribution

I would like to conduct a questionnaire (should take 30mins to fill), in which I would like you to answer about your experiences in using social networking sites. I’d like to ask you about things such as if you consider them a good source of information, and how you determine their truthfulness.

Storage and use of the data

Once your questionnaire has been completed, it will be kept safely. I will keep the documents until the end of the project, after which they will be destroyed. Quantitative analysis will be made with the answers you have provided, which will enable a discourse for the project. In addition to myself, Prof. aaaa aaaa may also proof read work before submission of the project.

Anonymity and confidentiality

I will use a number of measures to