About the Study

The purpose of this study is to identify and explore physical, psychological, social, environmental, and socioeconomic factors that help or hinder the quality of life of young women during undergraduate programs.  The study will examine these factors from your unique perspective as a female college student.  As a direct result of this study, you, the participant, will determine how to address identified needs with other study participants.  Actions taken will be up to you to decide at the end of this study!  

Participant Eligibility Criteria:

To be eligible to participate in this study, individuals must have the following characteristics...

  • Adult females

  • Between 18-24 years of age

  • Living in the United States

  • Currently enrolled in an undergraduate program full-time attending classes on campus

  • Must attend a 4-year college or university within the United States

  • Read, write, and speak in English fluently

  • Do not suffer from severe visual, speech, hearing, cognitive/mental health impairments, or a serious illness, that could inhibit study participation

Procedures:    

If you agree to be in this study, you will be asked to:  

  • Complete a video-recorded PhotoVoice training session over conference call and PowerPoint  

  • Take pictures that describe your life experiences as a student.   

  • Select pictures that best describe your quality of life and make notes about photos  

  •  E-mail photos and notes to the researcher  

  • Participate in an individual interview on Skype with the researcher that will be audio-recorded to ensure information accuracy  

  • Participate in a follow-up interview with specific questions to explore your experience and to ensure the information in the transcript is an accurate description of your experiences  

  • Participate in a focus group over conference call with PowerPoint to discuss quality of life experiences as a group and identify themes (video-recorded to ensure accuracy)  

Your maximum time commitment to study over 2 months is 1 1/2 hours for training, 2 hours for taking pictures with three weeks for completion and submission, 1 1/2 hours for an interview and transcript review, and 1 1/2 hours for an action-planning focus group).

Participants will receive a consent form up to two weeks prior to the study procedures via email and can return the signed form to the researcher via email at least three days prior to study procedures beginning. Participants can access their completed forms via a personalized folder in the research study’s official Google Drive.   

Upon completion of the study, you will receive a $50 Amazon gift card via email as a token of appreciation for your participation in the study.  You will have access to the findings and can request a summary of the report at the completion of the study.   

If you would like to participate, please feel free to e-mail Miss Victoria Akyea at vakyea@liberty.edu or call her on her cell phone at 412-652-8667 for more information.   

Thank you for participating!