TITLE: Ethical Standards Development for Mediums and Trance Channelers

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS: Helané Wahbeh, hwahbeh@noetic.org & Siri Zemel, szemel@noetic.org

FUNDED BY: Institute of Noetic Sciences (IONS)

PURPOSE: The research objective of this study is to engage field leaders and practitioners in developing an aspirational code of ethics for mediums/trance channelers. Although a professional association is most typically the birthplace of ethical standards, this research project draws on a self-organizing and collaborative system of consensus building. The specific aims of this study are threefold: 1) identify ethical standards currently used by English-speaking adult mediums/trance channelers, 2) based on emergent themes, establish an initial draft framework for ethical standards for the field, and 3) obtain a consensus among practitioners for an initial code of ethics for mediums/trance channelers (for the purpose of this study, a consensus is defined as at least 75% agreement among participants).

PROCEDURES: You will complete this survey series online, and each survey takes approximately 5-30 minutes to complete. Each survey will be spread out over a period of weeks or months to allow time for data analysis between surveys. You do not need to participate in every survey in the series. However, you must participate in the first survey to be included in subsequent ones. The survey includes personal questions about working as a medium/trance channeler, the ethical standards you adhere to, elements related to ethical standards development for the mediumship/trance channeling field, and feedback on a draft code of ethics for the mediumship/trance channeling field.

ACCESS TO SURVEY RESULTS:  All participants will receive the same follow-up email after the survey data has been analyzed, sharing the group results. Individual results will not be analyzed or disseminated, and reports will not include any identifying information.

RISKS: There are no known risks from participating in this study. Your comfort and safety are of the utmost importance. Some of these questions we ask you in this survey may seem very personal. Because this is a research study, if you choose to discontinue the survey, your data may or may not be used in the research study.

BENEFITS: There is no direct compensation for your participation. You may or may not directly benefit from being in this study. You may indirectly benefit from being part of a larger research study and learning about the study results in the future.

ALTERNATIVES: You may choose not to be in this study. Your participation is strictly voluntary, and you may discontinue the study activities at any time.

Question Title

* CONFIDENTIALITY: This is a non-anonymous survey series. It includes several stages of follow-up surveys during the process of consensus development with field leaders and peers. By sharing your name and contact information, you consent to follow-up communications throughout this entire survey series. Survey information and responses will be stored on password-protected computers in password protected files. All participants will receive the same follow-up surveys and final follow-up email after the survey data has been analyzed, including the group results of this survey. Your individual results will not be analyzed or disseminated, and reports will not include any identifying information about you.

COSTS: It will not cost you anything to participate in this study.

PARTICIPATION: If you have any questions, concerns, or complaints regarding this study now or in the future, contact Siri Zemel at (865) 773-6643 or Helané Wahbeh, (707) 779-8230. This research is being overseen by an Institutional Review Board (“IRB”). You may talk to the IRB Chair, Garret Yount, PhD by emailing him at gyount@noetic.org if:
  • Your questions, concerns, or complaints are not being answered by the research team.
  • You want to talk to someone besides the research team.
  • You have questions about your rights as a research subject.
  • You want to get more information or provide input about this research.
You do not have to join this or any research study. If you do join the study and later change your mind, you have the right to quit at any time. If you choose not to join any or all parts of this study, or if you withdraw early from any or all parts of the study, there will be no penalty or loss of benefits to which you are otherwise entitled.

I have read and understood this consent form and would like to participate in the study.

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