Contact
Contact Us
Don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions about our study or our Institute. Our staff are more than happy to provide any additional information you may need.
When will I hear back?
Someone from our research staff will respond as soon as they can.
General Questions
FAQ
Why is this only for guys? Why can’t girls participate?
We’ve tailored this study to only focus on health issues facing teen guys. As I’m sure you’re aware, young men and young women have many different concerns and behaviors regarding their health, so it makes sense to tailor programs to their own unique needs.
Will SMART interfere with students’ schoolwork?
SMART is broken down into short sections that do not have to be completed at once, so participants can take their time to complete it.
What if a student contacts you about a serious health issue (depression, anxiety, etc.)?
We take the needs of our participants very seriously. This program isn’t intended to assist in an emergency, and in a crisis participants should always call 9-1-1 or a crisis hotline. We provide a 24-hour hotline number that is always accessible within the program. At the same time, we fully understand that working with teens means that stress, trauma, mental illness, violence, and other issues can be present in the lives of our participants, and our team is prepared to provide appropriate resources and referrals to participants as required. Our team includes a licensed Clinical Psychologist who is on call and can provide options and referrals.
Do you really think an online program can improve someone’s health?
There has been a lot of compelling researching showing how effective online interventions can be at improving health behaviors. In our previous studies, many programs have resulted in improvements that are comparable to interventions delivered by people.
Do you really think an online program can improve someone’s health?
There has been a lot of compelling researching showing how effective online interventions can be at improving health behaviors. In our previous studies, many programs have resulted in improvements that are comparable to interventions delivered by people.
How are students’ information used?
The information students provide will help us understand how online programs can improve teens’ health.
How can students participate in a study without parent permission?
The SMART Project has been classified as a minimal risk study, meaning ethics experts have decided being in this study presents no more risks than experienced in everyday life or a typical doctor’s visit. Some teens may feel uncomfortable talking to their parents about enrolling in health-related research. In addition, our previous research has shown that teens have the capacity to understand the benefits and risks of participating in a study and make an informed decision about their participation. Allowing teens to make their own decision about participation ensures that all eligible teens are able to participate in our study, including those who may feel uncomfortable talking to a parent or may not be in contact with a parent.
If your study is only available over the internet, won’t this exclude teens who don’t have internet access at home? Not everyone in my school has internet access at home, and it seems this targets privileged students.
Despite what we might assume, Internet access is high across income and race after accounting for computers, tablets, and smartphones, with 92% of teens going online daily. Internet-based health programs that work across smartphones, tablets, and computers have the greatest potential for reach with diverse teens. We hope that this program will increase the options that youth have when they are looking for accurate health information.
Is SMART trying to replace the health education students are already receiving?
SMART is not meant to replace participants’ health education, but rather supplement it. We understand that there is often not enough time for schools to cover all health-related topics, and we hope that SMART can fill some of those gaps.
I have a question that’s not on your website. Who do I contact with additional questions?
Reach out to us via the contact form on this page, and our team will respond as soon as we can.