Dr. Beth Hammond is an associate professor of Education at USCB.Are you someone’s brother or sister? If so, Dr. Elizabeth “Beth” Hammond, associate professor of Education at the University of South Carolina Beaufort (USCB), needs your help for her research. People without siblings also can provide valuable input.
Hammond is studying the factors in sibling relationships that influence children’s growth and development. She needs adults with and without siblings to answer survey questions about their experiences with siblings. For respondents who don’t have brothers or sisters, the questions will be observation-based.
“This is my life’s work,” she said. “I need 10,000 people to complete the survey in the next five years and would like to have participants as far and wide as possible.”
The survey includes questions about age, birth order, number of siblings, description sibling relationships, descriptions of how respondents perceive sibling relationships’ impact, how the relationships have changed over time, etc. For those without siblings, the questions are about their thoughts about siblings and sibling relationships. Respondents usually complete the survey in 10-15 minutes, but some submit longer narratives.
This research will go on for at least ten years. Hammond said USCB students are working to analyze the data collected as the research progresses, and students will continue to play a key role in the analysis, writing, and presentation of outcomes across the duration of the research.The survey explores ways in which siblings interact and the impact those relationships may have on perceptions and beliefs. Hammond admits that some of the survey questions may feel uncomfortable. Respondents may skip any they don’t want to answer. Her research has been identified as “exempt” by the Institutional Review Board for the University of South Carolina. Human subjects research that is classified as “exempt” means that the research qualifies as no risk or minimal risk to subjects and is exempt from most of the requirements of the Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects.
Participation is confidential and anonymous. Study information will be kept in a secure location at the University of South Carolina Beaufort. The results of the study may be published or presented at professional meetings, but the identity of the subjects will not be revealed. If subjects agree to participate in follow-up survey data collection, they will be asked to provide your email address. Only the Principal Investigator will have this information, and subjects’ identity will remain anonymous in any publications or presentations that result from this research.
There is no compensation for participating in this research study.
Dr. Beth Hammond is happy to answer any questions you have about the study. Contact her at ejh49@uscb.edu or 843-208-8205.