Who is doing this research?

This research is led by Clayton J. Lessor, PhD, LPC. He is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Missouri. Dr. Lessor created the Father Wound Assessment and the Father Wound Parent Course being studied, and he earns income from the course. This is a conflict of interest. It is explained fully — along with the safeguards we use to keep the research honest — in the section below called “Things you should know.”

Why are you being asked?

You are being asked because you are a parent or caregiver of a boy aged 11 to 18, and you have taken the free Father Wound Assessment on our website. About 300 to 500 parents will take part.

What is this study about?

This study has two goals. First, we want to find out if the Father Wound Assessment really measures the five father-wound patterns it was built to measure. Second, we want to learn if parents who take the Father Wound Parent Course see helpful changes in how they parent.

What will you be asked to do?

If you say yes, you will take up to three short online surveys over about four to five months:

• Survey 1 (now): The Father Wound Assessment, a parenting questionnaire, and a few background questions. About 15 minutes.
• Survey 2 (after the course): If you take the Father Wound Parent Course, you take this when you finish it, about 4 to 6 weeks later. About 10 minutes.
• Survey 3 (follow-up): About 3 months after Survey 2. About 10 minutes.

Surveys 2 and 3 are only for parents who take the course. If you take only the assessment, you do just Survey 1. In all, the surveys take about 30 to 45 minutes.

Are there any risks?

The risks are small. Some questions ask you to think about your own father or your son’s struggles. This may feel uncomfortable or sad for a short time. You can skip any question you do not want to answer. You can stop at any time. There is also a small risk that your information could be seen by someone not part of the study (a breach of confidentiality). We work to prevent this with the safeguards described in “How will your information be protected?” below.

If the questions bring up feelings that are hard to handle on your own — or if you are worried about your safety or your family’s safety — these free, private resources can help:

• 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: call or text 988 (any time).
• National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233, or text START to 88788 (any time).
• SAMHSA National Helpline: 1-800-662-4357 (any time).
• If anyone is in danger right now, call 911.

Are there any benefits?

You will not be paid for taking part. You can take the Father Wound Parent Course whether or not you join the study. Taking part may help you notice your own parenting patterns. It may also help other families by adding to what we know.

Things you should know

You should know that Dr. Lessor built the Father Wound Assessment and the Father Wound Parent Course used in this study. We want you to have the full picture, so we are being completely open with you. He founded The Quest Project^®, and he earns income from the course. These are real conflicts of interest. To keep the research honest, we use these safeguards:

• The plan for studying the results is posted publicly, in advance, before any data is collected.
• An independent expert with no stake in the outcome checks the main results.
• Your answers are collected and stripped of names automatically, so Dr. Lessor does not see who gave which answers.
• All results will be shared in full, even if they show no change or a negative result.

How will your information be protected?

Your name is never attached to your answers. Here is how we keep your information safe:

• You get a study ID number. Your answers are linked only to that number, not to your name or email.
• The file that links your name to your ID is kept separate, encrypted, and password-protected. Only the people running the study, who promise to keep it private, can see it.
• Your answers are kept on encrypted, password-protected systems. Nothing is kept on personal devices.
• Reports only show group results. You will never be named.
• Stripped data is kept for seven years, then destroyed. The files that could identify you are destroyed three years after the study’s results are published.

Is taking part your choice?

Yes. Taking part is your choice. You can say no, skip any question, or stop at any time, for any reason. If you say no or stop, it will not change anything — you can still use the assessment, see your results, and take the course, just like everyone else. The research is separate from any product. Saying no costs you nothing.

How to stop taking part

You may stop at any time, for any reason. Because the surveys are online, you can stop simply by closing the survey without finishing, and you do not have to give a reason. If you would like to withdraw between surveys, or have your contact information removed so we do not invite you to the next survey, email Dr. Lessor at Clayton@ClaytonLessor.com. If you withdraw, any survey you have already finished will be kept and used in the study. If you are in the middle of a survey when you stop, that unfinished survey will be discarded and not used. Choosing to stop will not affect your access to the assessment, your results, or the course.