You are being invited to take part in a research project on cognitive performance carried out by the School of Education of the University of Glasgow.

Before you decide if you want to take part, it is important for you to understand why the research is being done and what it will involve. Please take time to read the information on this page carefully and discuss it with others if you wish. Ask me 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.

I hope that this sheet will answer any questions you have about the study.

  1. What is the purpose of the study?

The purpose of this study is to find out how aerobic exercise and caloric restriction/intermittent fasting impact cognitive performance. You will be given more information about the purpose of the study at the end.

  1. Why have I been chosen?

You are being asked to take part because you fit the population specification of having a particular exercise and/or dietary routine.

  1. Do I have to take part?

You do not have to take part in this study. If you decide not to take part, you will not be penalised and nothing will change. You are able to withdraw from the study at any point without stating a reason by closing the browser window. If you change your mind after submission, just let me know and I will not use any information you have given me in my writing.

  1. What will happen to me if I take part?

If you take part I will ask you to provide some demographic information and fill in a mood questionnaire. The mood questionnaire consists of 9 problems, you will be asked to rate how often you are bothered by each problem in the past 2 weeks. You do not have to answer any question that you do not want to. If you have any questions or concern upon completion of the mood questionnaire, please consult your doctor for further advice. Upon completion of the questionnaire, you will be asked to provide your email address, and a link will be sent to you to complete a cognitive assessment online within 5 business days if you are eligible to participate in the study. You will need to register an account using the link provided before you can proceed with the assessment. A pseudonym will be assigned to you, I recommend keeping the pseudonym as you complete the assessment. In total, there will be 17 tasks measuring 22 fundamental abilities under 5 cognitive domains: attention, memory, coordination, perception and reasoning. You will be asked to complete different automated interactive tasks using your mouse/trackpad/touchscreen on your personal device. Each task will take approximately 1-2 minutes to complete. You can save and resume the test later anytime you want to. The whole assessment should take you approximately 30 minutes to complete. Details of the assessment can be found in the link below.

https://www.cognifit.com/cognifit/assessment/index/a/general-assessment

I will be finished gathering data by 30 November 2022.

  1. Will the information that I give you in this study be kept confidential?

Your personal data will be anonymized. I will keep all the data I collect about your background, cognitive score, exercise and dietary pattern in a locked cabinet or in a locked file on my computer. When I write about what I have found, your name will not be mentioned. However, if I receive any communication from you which makes me worried that you might be in danger of harm, I might have to inform relevant agencies of this.

  1. What will happen to the results of this study?

I will analyse the data I collect from participants, and present this in the dissertation which I am writing for my qualification, MSc Psychology ODL (Conversion). If you would like to request a summary of the study, please feel free to contact me.

  1. Who has reviewed the study?

This study has been reviewed and agreed by the School of Education Ethics Forum, University of Glasgow.

  1. Who can I contact for further Information?

If you have any urgent concerns upon completion of the mood questionnaire, you may contact NHS 111 online via https://111.nhs.uk, or call 111.

If it is not urgent, you may get access to NHS psychological therapies (IAPT) services with or without GP referral via https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/mental-health/find-a-psychological-therapies-service/.

If you are located outside of the United Kingdom, you may contact the local Samaritans, an international non-profit organization giving emotional support to people who are in distress.

If the Samaritans is not available in your country, you may need to visit a GP to obtain referral to a local counselling service.

If you have any questions about this study, you can ask me, Tsz Yin CHAN (2475082C@student.glasgow.ac.uk) or my supervisor, Dr Nicola SCOTT (Nicola.Scott.2@glasgow.ac.uk) or the Ethics officer for the School of Education, Dr Barbara Read (Barbara.Read@glasgow.ac.uk)

Thank you for reading this.

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