Ethnographic research: the most important information for participants.

We are looking for participants for the research entitled “Embodying Climate Change: A Transdisciplinary Study of Urban Overheating”.

This is part of a scientific research, which means that the data collected as a result will not be used for commercial purposes.

The research method we will use is ethnography, a method based on personalized meetings with participants, in-depth conversations and spending time together on daily activities. Participants will also be asked to use sensors to measure body temperature, heart rate, pressure, temperature and humidity.

The study will be conducted in the summer months of 2021 and 2022 in Warsaw and Madrid.

We invite people over 65 living in Warsaw and Madrid to participate in the study.

We guarantee complete anonymity to all participants.

In addition, we are bound by the GDPR (Personal Data Protection), the Code of Ethics of the Polish Academy of Sciences, anthropological codes of ethics and the European Codes of Ethics. Our research will comply with the ethical regulations of the European Commission (Iphofen 2013), the European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity (2017) and the regulations in force in both countries.

Participation in the study is completely voluntary and you can withdraw from it at any time and without any consequences.

The research will be carried out by a team of experienced researchers who can be contacted at this link: https: //www.emclic.com/pl/team/

In Warsaw, ethnographic research will be carried out by Zofia Bieńkowska , researcher at Adam Mickiewicz University, PhD student at the University of Warsaw.

In Madrid, ethnographic research will be carried out by  Paloma Yáñez Serrano , researcher at the University of Adam Mickiewicz, PhD student at the University of Manchester.

Basic information.

What is ethnographic research?

Ethnographic research is based on an in-depth knowledge of the worlds, visions and everyday habits of participants, and therefore requires dedication from both the researcher and participants. The researcher will spend at least a few hours with each participant every two weeks in July and August 2021, and thereafter in 2022.
The research methods used in the study will include:
1. Interviews (recorded with the consent of the participants)
2. Accompanying the study participants in their daily activities (participant observation)
3. Application of sensors: devices measuring air temperature and humidity, as well as skin temperature, heart rate and pressure of participants. (It will be a wristband and a small portable sensor)

Please contact us:

Zofia Bieńkowska
Correo electrónico: z.bienkowska@uw.edu.pl/ zofbie4@ext.amu.edu.pl
Paloma Yáñez Serrano
E-mail: palyan1@ext.amu.edu.pl/ palo_yase@hotmail.com

Safety related to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Due to the constant epidemic threat, all precautions will be taken to ensure the maximum safety of participants: safe distance, hand hygiene, use of protective masks, temperature measurement and meetings in rooms with ventilation or in open spaces. In addition, the researcher will always have a disinfecting liquid, protective masks and a thermometer with her.

Information on the handling of research material and methods of ensuring anonymity.

What will happen with the collected data?
Only the researcher will have to collect the materials. Other members and team members will have access to their anonymised version. Before any form of their publication, all data that could lead to your identification will be removed (from interview records, notes). Data in a collective (non-identifiable) form will be used for scientific publications.
Before publication, the materials collected by the researcher will be presented to you and together we will decide which of them best presents your world view. In the case of a different type of data (e.g. documentary film or photos) any additional use (publication) will require your additional consent.

Methods of maintaining confidentiality.

By agreeing to participate in the study, you consent to the researcher recording relevant information on the topics you will discuss. In addition, you may, but do not have to, consent to the researcher recording video and sound.
Anonymity in the texts based on the research will be ensured by changing the name and surname as well as the details of the disclosed narrative, if they could identify a specific person. The data analysis will in no way be linked to your personal data.
Confidentiality and the right to anonymity will be discussed at the beginning of the study. Consent may be withdrawn at any time during the study.
All material collected during the research will be stored in an encrypted in the project hard drive. It will be kept for 5 years for the purposes of legitimizing the research. After this time, the data will be deleted.

Ways to ensure participants’ comfort during testing:

If you experience discomfort, stress, or anxiety during the course of the study, your first reaction will be to stop the research activity. The next researcher will assess your mental state by asking (for example) questions:
How are you feeling?
What are you thinking about? What is causing your anxiety?
Do you feel safe?
What can we change to make you feel better?
If you think it can continue, we will undertake research activities. If you do not want to continue, the researcher will try to improve your well-being, to calm you down, for example to sit in a quiet place; research activities will not be continued. If the discomfort persists, we will encourage you to contact your doctor.

What happens if I do not want to participate in the study or if I change my mind during the study?

The decision to take part in the study is entirely yours. If you choose to participate, you will receive a copy of the information sheet and will be asked to sign consent forms. You can withdraw at any time without giving any reason and without any consequences. For this purpose, it is enough to inform the researcher (Paloma Yáñez Serrano, MPhil) or the study director (Zofia Boni Ph.D.) about it in person, by phone or e-mail. In the event of resignation from participation in the study, all materials related to the participant will be removed from the project database.

Additional method: documentary.

Additionally, you can consent to the use of an additional method in the study: a documentary film. If you participate in the filming, selected parts of the film material may be published as film. Only material authorized by you will be used. Any other material that is not used or that you do not consent to publication will not be used in any media production.
In the event of resignation from participation in the film part, the film material containing the participant’s or participant’s image and all data related to him / her will be removed from the project database.

Will the research results be published?

Based on the collected data, we intend to create at least three scientific publications. Some data will also be used to produce an accompanying documentary film.

What if something goes wrong?

If there are any problems regarding these studies that you do not want to discuss directly with the researcher, please contact the project manager, Dr.Zofia Boni via e-mail: zofia.boni@amu.edu.pl or by phone: 61 829 13 87.