​This study looks at how love relationships are changing and why. We have a particular interest in the growing number of people choosing polyamory and want to decipher the meaning behind this shift. Why are people choosing polyamory? Why do people choose monogamy? Why do people choose the solo life? Or do people feel as though they are not choosing at all? 

 

We want to listen to people's stories of love, as a way of trying to answer the above questions. The idea is that people's experience can give us a rich understanding of social change. So we are collecting love stories.       

 

What's this study for? 

 

The study is being conducted to meet the requirements of the Doctor of Philosophy in the department of sociology at Macquarie University. We also just want to know more about polyamory, so we can contribute to the growing body of research on polyamory.

 

What's involved? 

 

You can participate in this study by sharing your story, through an interview, skype interview, or emailing us.   This study follows a strict ethical code, which, among other things, aims to protect your privacy. For more information on ethics, please see here.

 

Participant Information and Consent Form

 

Participant Information and Consent Form

 

Name of Project: Social change in personal relationships: A case study of ethical non-monogamy

 

You are invited to participate in a study on Polyamory. The purpose of the study is to explore the sociological reasons why people engage in polyamorous relationships.

 

The study is being conducted by Penelope Faulkner (penelope.faulkner@students.mq.edu.au) to meet the requirements of the Doctor of Philosophy under the supervision of Dr. Harry Blatterer (harry.blatterer@mq.edu.au, ph: 9850 8069) of the Department of Sociology.

 

If you decide to participate, you will be asked to do a (approx.) 60 minute interview, which will be audio-recorded. The interviews will be conducted at Macquarie University at a mutually convenient time.  The interview will cover topics regarding personal relationships, which may bring up painful memories and cause psychological distress.

 

Quotations and information relating to gender and age may be used in the thesis and publications. Pseudonyms will be used to protect your privacy. You will have the opportunity to review the transcript of the interview by emailing Penelope Faulkner: penelope.faulkner@students.mq.edu.au. A mutually convenient time and place will be arranged, so that you can look over the transcript. The review will take approximately one hour

 

Any information or personal details gathered in the course of the study are confidential, except as required by law.  No individual will be identified in any publication of the results.  Data will be accessible to the Chief Investigator and the Co-Investigator. The data may be made available to other researchers for future Human Research Ethics Committee-approved research projects.  A summary of the results can be made available to you on request by emailing Penelope Faulkner: penelope.faulkner@students.mq.edu.au.

 

Participation in this study is entirely voluntary: you are not obliged to participate and if you decide to participate, you are free to withdraw at any time without having to give a reason and without consequence.

 

The ethical aspects of this study have been approved by the Macquarie
University Human Research Ethics Committee.  If you have any complaints or
reservations about any ethical aspect of your participation in this
research, you may contact the Committee through the Director, Research
Ethics and Integrity (telephone (02) 9850 7854; email ethics@mq.edu.au).
Any complaint you make will be treated in confidence and investigated, and
you will be informed of the outcome.