Subjective meanings of social inclusion

Participant Information Sheet

You are kindly invited to participate in a research interview as part of a research project for a Ph.D.
thesis. Before you decide it is important for you to understand why the research is being done and what
it will involve. Please take time to read the following information carefully and discuss it with others if
you wish. Please ask if there is anything that is not clear or if you would like more information. Take
time to decide whether or not you wish to take part. Thank you for reading this.
Who will conduct the research?
Tana Licsandru, PhD candidate at Alliance Manchester Business School, University of Manchester,
Booth Street West, Manchester M15 6PB, tana.licsandru@manchester.ac.uk
Title of the Research
Subjective meanings of social inclusion.
What is the aim of the research?
The aim of this study is to advance the knowledge about the socio-psychological concept of subjective
social inclusion, and how this concept can be applied to enhance social wellbeing of ethnic individuals
who live in the UK, i.e. their feelings of belongingness and perceived social acceptance, as well as
other factors that can exert an influence on these feelings, such as the need to belong or self-esteem.
Why have I been chosen?
You are selected as a potential participant in this interview because your self-declared ethnicity is within
the ethnic scope defined in this research project. You qualify for participation in this study if you are a
mono-ethnic or multi-ethnic individual, whose self-declared ethnicity includes one or more of the
following: Irish, Polish, Black, Caribbean, African, Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Chinese, Any other
Asian, Arab, White and Black Caribbean, White and Black African, White and Asian; Any other Mixed;
older than 18 years old; resident of the UK.
What would I be asked to do if I took part?
If you agree to participate in this study, you will engage in an in-depth interview lasting up to 60
minutes. During the interview you will be asked about your thoughts and feelings about your experience
of living in the UK and whether you feel welcome as well as fitting in this society. During the interview
you may be asked to view some advertisements, choose the ones that you find particularly interesting
and discuss your choices. Please note that there are no physical or psychological risks associated with
your participation in this study.
What happens to the data collected?
All the information gathered from the interview will be available only to the researchers associated with
this study (Tana Licsandru and Dr. Charles Cui). The data will be used only for academic purposes. It
will contribute to the writing of a PhD thesis and other research papers that may arise from it (journal
publications, conference papers, reports, presentations).

How is confidentiality maintained?

All data will remain anonymous and confidential for the duration of the research project. No
identification details are requested from the participants. Every response will be assigned to an
anonymous identification code for the purpose of data analysis. All data will be anonymously stored on
encrypted storage devices. Since the data is anonymously stored and used, no individual identity
information will appear in the data and results of the study.
What happens if I do not want to take part or if I change my mind?
Your participation in this interview is completely voluntary. It is up to you to decide whether or not to
take part. If you volunteer to participate in the interview, please note that you may withdraw at any point
in time, without giving a reason and without detriment to yourself. If you decide to participate in this
interview, you will be asked to sign a consent form, upon reading and fully understanding this
information section. If you decide to withdraw from the process, all physical documents, such as
consent form, and any recordings will be shredded and securely destroyed or deleted.
Will I be paid for participating in the interview?
You will not be paid for participation, but you will be offered a token of appreciation for your time in the
form of an Amazon Voucher.
What is the duration of the interview?
The completion of this interview will take up to 60 minutes.
Where will the interview be conducted?
The interview will be conducted in a public space of your choice/convenience, mutually agreed with the
researcher, such as a pre-booked seminar room at the University of Manchester, the coffee lounge in
Alliance Manchester Business School, or a study room in Allan Gilbert Learning Commons or the main
Library. The interview location and procedure will follow the University of Manchester regulations.
Will the outcomes of the interview be published?
The outcomes of the interview will contribute to the Ph.D. thesis of Tana Licsandru and be in academic
publications, with complete preservation of anonymity.
Contact for further information
Please feel free to contact the research student or the academic supervisor for any further information
related to this study. Contact details are provided below.
Ms. Tana Licsandru
PhD Candidate, Alliance Manchester Business School, University of Manchester
Tel: +44(0)7514255635
Email: tana.licsandru@manchester.ac.uk
Dr. Charles Cui
Senior Lecturer in International Management and Marketing
Alliance Manchester Business School, University of Manchester
Tel: +44(0) 161 306-3461
Email: charles.cui@mbs.ac.uk

Should a participant want to make a formal complaint about the conduct of the research, they should
contact the Head of the Research Office, Christie Building, University of Manchester, Oxford Road,
Manchester, M13 9PL.