Our survey

Participant Information Sheet (For participant to keep)

Project Title: A study on what consent means to young people

Principal Investigator: Chong Ning Qian/Chen Nelly

Organisation/institution: AWARE (Association of Women for Action and Research)/Ngee Ann Polytechnic
Email: advocacy@aware.org.sg/cne2@np.edu.sg

Dear Participant,
We are a group of Year 1 students from the Diploma in Psychology Studies at the School of Humanities &
Social Sciences, Ngee Ann Polytechnic doing a study in collaboration with AWARE, Singapore’s leading
gender equality advocacy group. We are currently taking a module on Introduction to Statistics & Research
Methods, and doing a study that investigates how young people think about and understand consent.

You are invited to participate in a research project. This information sheet gives you with details about the
research. The survey administrator will also describe this research to you and answer all questions. Read the
information below, and ask any questions before deciding if you should participate in this survey.

Purpose of the research: This survey aims to explore your understanding of consent in the context of sexual
activities, personal experiences with negotiating and communicating consent, as well as the ways in which
you have acquired knowledge about consent in Singapore.

Who can participate in this research? Any person between ages of 17-25 available to do a survey.

How long do I have to participate? The length of participation is up to you. Most surveys will take about 15-
20 minutes to complete. Participation is completely voluntary. At any time, you may refuse to participate or
refuse to answer any questions; you may also withdraw during the study at any time, without penalty.

What is the duration of this research? 6 months (November 2019 to April 2020)

What will be done if I take part in this research? You will complete a survey questionnaire. The completed
version will be kept by the Principal Investigator (person in charge of this research) for use in collecting and
analyzing the data for the purposes of our project (stated at the start of this form).

How will my privacy and confidentiality be protected? You are not required to provide your name in this
survey questionnaire. Your personal responses will not be shared to anyone outside of the research team.
What are the possible discomforts and risks for participants? We do not foresee significant discomforts
and risks for participants taking part in the survey. Nonetheless, if you are experiencing sexual, family or
relationship violence (physical/ emotional etc) and would like speak to someone, please refer to the
following contact information –
AWARE Helpline: 1800 777 5555 (Opens Mon-Fri 3pm to 9.30pm).
Sexual Assault Care Centre: 6779 0282 (Opens Mon-Fri, 10am to midnight).
PAVE: 6555 0390
TRANS Safe Centre: 6449 9088
Care Corner: 6476 1482

What are the possible benefits to me and others? There is no direct benefit to you by participating in this
research. However, this survey may be an opportunity to express your opinions or thoughts on matters
related to consent in relationships and sexual activities.

What will be done with the information from the survey? It will be kept as part of the researchers’
permanent research record and may be used in future research. All hard copies of the surveys will be
destroyed after six months. Only the data will be kept – and even so all identifying information will be
removed in the dataset.

Can I refuse to participate in this research? Yes, you can. Your participation in this research is voluntary
and completely up to you. We can end the survey any time you wish and you do not have to answer any
questions if you do not want to.

Whom should I call if I have any questions or problems?

Please contact the Principal Investigator, Chong Ning Qian or Chen Nelly for all research-related matters and
in the event of research-related concerns.

Student researchers from the Diploma in Psychology Studies, Year 1.2 Cohort
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I, ____________________________________, (the undersigned) have read the Participant Information Sheet, have had
the nature of study explained to me and I agree to participate. All questions have been answered to my
satisfaction.

____________________________________                                                                              
____________________________      
 Participant’s Signature                                                                                                      Date
SECTION 1: DEMOGRAPHIC QUESTIONS. Please answer each question as honestly as possible

A. Age: _________ years

B. Gender:
❏ Female
❏ Male
❏ Transgender

C. Highest education level you have achieved:

❏ PSLE
❏ O or N Levels
❏ A Levels
❏ Nitec/Higher Nitec
❏ Diploma
❏ Undergraduate/University degree
❏ Masters/PhD/Postgraduate degree
❏ Others, please specify: ______________________________

D. Secondary school streaming

❏ Special
❏ Express
❏ Normal Academic
❏ Normal Technical
❏ Others, please specify: ________________

E. Upon completion of ‘O’ or ‘N’ levels, I immediately __________________________________.

❏ went to a Junior College
❏ went to a Polytechnic
❏ went to an Institute of Technical Education (ITE)
❏ did not further my studies anymore
❏ Others, please specify (e.g. went to School of the Arts):___________________________________

F. Ethnicity (as stated on identity card):

❏ Chinese
❏ Malay
❏ Indian
❏ Eurasian
❏ Others, please specify:____________________________________

G. Type of residential housing you currently live in (please tick the closest resemblance/most appropriate):
❏ Rented room
❏ 1-room or 2-room HDB
❏ 3-room or 4-room HDB
❏ 5-room HDB
❏ Condominium
❏ Landed property

H. Parents’ marital status

❏ married
❏ divorced
❏ widowed
❏ never married
SECTION 2: UNDERSTANDING OF CONSENT

Based on your understanding of consent, to what extent do you agree that Person A gave consent in the following
scenarios?
2 Statements describing scenarios that occurred Strongly Agree; Neutral; Disagree; Strongly
between A and B. Agree; Disagree;
Person A Person A Maybe Person A Person A
Please give your honest opinion on the following fully gave Person A did not did not
statements. There are no right or wrong answers. gave consent gave consent consent at
consent consent all

2.1 A is up for sex. Halfway through the act, A changes

their mind to have sex and tell their partner, B.
B ignores A and carries on with the act.

2.2 A and B go to a bar. After a few drinks, A begins to

slur and stumble about. B asks A if they want to have
sex and A mumbles incoherently. They have sex.

2.3 A is 15 years old. Their teacher is 24 years old. They

agree to and proceed to have sex.

2.4 A and B agree to have sex; A requests that B uses a

condom. B agrees to the request. Halfway through
the act, B removes the condom without A’s
knowledge and continues to have sex with A.

2.5 A and B both agreed to have sex. After getting

undressed, A has second thoughts about proceeding.
B tells A that they are overthinking things and they
both end up having sex. A felt uncomfortable
throughout and did not say anything for fear of
disappointing B.

2.6 B wants to have sex, A does not. B threatens to

publish a nude photo of A if they refuse to have sex. A
agrees to have sex. They have sex.
SECTION 3: ATTITUDES TOWARDS CONSENT
Please indicate the extent that you agree with the following statements

3 Please give your honest opinion on the following statements. Strongly Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly
There are no right or wrong answers. Agree Disagree

3.1 Once intimate photos have been exchanged, both partners

can do what they wish with them, including posting them on
social media.

3.2 Spouses are obliged to have sex or perform sexual acts as

and when either one of them requests for it.

3.3 Consent to foreplay e.g. kissing, hugging, touching, is consent

to sex.

3.4 Once someone has agreed to have sex, it is unfair for them to
change their mind later.

3.5 Victims of sexual assault/rape must take some responsibility

for what happened to them.

3.6 Only women can be raped or sexually assaulted.

3.7 Women who are raped often ask for it.

3.8 Women often say ‘no’ to sex when they actually mean yes.

3.9 Most claims of rape are false.

SECTION 4: EXPERIENCES WITH COMMUNICATING CONSENT

4. Have you engaged in any form of sexual activity with another person?
❏ Yes – Proceed to Question 5
❏ No – Skip Section 5, Proceed to Question 6
❏ I don’t know, Proceed to Question 6
❏ Do not wish to say, Proceed to Question 6
.
Answer this section ONLY if you answered ‘Yes’ to Question 4. Otherwise please skip this section and proceed to
Question 6.

Please consider the following statements pertaining to your experiences with communicating and negotiating consent during
sexual activities. Select the option that is most relevant to your personal experiences.

5 Please give your honest opinion on the following statements. Strongly Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly
There are no right or wrong answers. Agree Disagree

5.1 I always ask for consent (either verbally or nonverbally)

BEFORE I initiate a sexual encounter.

5.2 I feel awkward asking for consent before initiating sexual

activity.
5.3 Verbally asking for sexual consent reduces the pleasure of the
encounter i.e. it destroys the mood.

Please give your honest opinion on the following statements. Strongly Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly
There are no right or wrong answers. Agree Disagree

5.4 Sexual consent is NOT something my current (or most recent)

partner and I discuss before we start having sex.

5.5 I ask for consent by making a sexual advance and waiting for a
reaction, so I know whether or not to continue.

5.6 During a sexual encounter, I typically only ASK for consent

ONCE.

SECTION 6: LEARNING ABOUT CONSENT

6 Please give your honest opinion on the following statements. There are no right or YES NO UNSURE
wrong answers.

6.1 Were you ever taught about consent e.g. how to ask for consent, how to give consent,
what consent is and is not in school?

6.2 Do you think it is important that consent is covered in the sex education curriculum?

6.3 Do you think parents should teach their children about consent?.

6.4 Have you ever been discouraged by your partner, family members or peers from
discussing issues related to consent?

6.5 Are you aware and knowledgeable of the notion that consent is “yes” means yes?

6.6) Where did you FIRST receive information about consent? (Please choose ONE option)
❏ Mother
❏ Father
❏ School
❏ Friends
❏ Partner
❏ Internet
❏ Television
❏ Books
❏ Others
❏ I have never received any information about consent

6.7) Where do you get most of your current knowledge about consent? (PLEASE TICK ALL THAT APPLY).
❏ Mother
❏ Father
❏ School
❏ Friends
❏ Partner
❏ Internet
❏ Television
❏ Books
❏ Others
❏ I have never received any information about consent