Download the Study Overview

Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

for Parents and Students

If you are a teacher or administrator, you'll want to switch over to the content specifically for you. You might have a question that is among these, or you might learn solutions to issues you hadn't yet encountered.

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1. What is the purpose of the study?

The study will help us to understand better how physical fitness and health is associated with physical activity, health behaviors and the students’ environment.

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2. Is it mandatory that I participate?

No, participation is completely voluntary. After reading through the provided information, if you and your child agree to participate, please complete the informed consent (for parents/guardian) and assent (for the student) process.

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3. Will participation in the survey affect grades?

No, it will have no effect on grades at school. There is no penalty for not participating and there is no extra bonus for participating.

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4. I am a student at an Adventist school. What do I have to do if I want to participate in the study?

If you want to participate in the study, you have to first ask your parent or legal guardian for permission. Give them the link to this website along with your student ID number. They can follow the instructions on the website to complete the consent process and the parent portion of the online survey. You can also follow the instructions on the website to give your assent to participate in the study and to complete the student survey.

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5. I would like to be part of this study, but I am not living with my parents currently because they live far from school. Can another adult give the consent for me to participate?

No, only one of your parents or legal guardian can give the consent for you. Please contact them by phone or by email and give them the link to our website (physicalgenesis.com) along with your student ID number. They can follow the instructions on the website to complete the consent process and the parent portion of the online survey.

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6. I am a student who is already 18 years old. Do I still need my parents to give consent to participate in the study?

Yes, because they are also participating in the study and need to give consent for their participation. They will need to complete the parent portion of the survey. However, if your parent/legal guardian does not want to participate, you can still participate for the student portion only. In that case, you will need to complete the consent form rather than the assent form. When completing the consent form, choose “other” under relationships and write “self because 18 and over.”

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7. What if I am a parent/legal guardian with more than one child who wants to participate in the study?

If you have more than one child that participates in the study, you need to repeat the log-in and informed consent process separately for each child participating in the study. However, in the parent survey, you will not need to answer all questions again but only those questions that are relevant for that particular child.

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8. What topics will be covered in the survey?
Will there be questions about sexuality?

Topics will be related to health and will include dietary intake, physical activity, social/physical environment, etc. There will be no questions about sexuality.

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9. How do I log on to the survey?

Go to the “How To” section of this website and follow the instructions. You will need the student’s ID number and password, which is the student’s first name

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10. Do I have to finish the survey in one sitting?
Is there a time limit to complete the survey?

No. You may come back to the survey later on to complete it and you may take as long as you need. There is no time limit. Each time, you will be required to log in using your student ID number and password.

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11. If I don’t finish answering the survey in one sitting, will I have to repeat the whole thing again when I go back to it?

No, you will continue where you left off the last time. Just make sure to click “SAVE” before logging off if you are not finished answering all the questions.  You may have to start all over again if you do not click “SAVE.”

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12. Can I answer only the questions I want to answer and leave the rest blank?

If you feel uncomfortable answering any of the questions on the survey, you do not have to respond. However, please complete as much of the survey as you can because this will provide us with more complete results and will help us understand the relationships we are studying.

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13. Can the parent/guardian complete both the parent survey and the child survey?

No. We ask that the parent/guardian complete the parent survey while the student completes the student survey to ensure accuracy of the information.

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14. Does my parent need to respond to the parent survey first before I can respond to the student survey?

No, as long as both you and your parent have submitted the informed consent, it does not matter who answers their survey first.

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15. Will I be able to see my child’s responses to the survey questions?

No. Parents will not be able to view their children’s responses to the survey.

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16. Can I ask others such as my parents to help me if I don’t understand a question?

Yes, certainly. It is possible to misinterpret questions, so asking someone else, especially an older person who knows you well, can help you find a more accurate answer.

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17. How long will it take to answer the survey for students?

The survey will take approximately 45 to 60 minutes to complete. Remember, you do not need to finish the entire survey in one sitting. You may take breaks if needed. In fact, we highly encourage you to stretch or do something active such as jumping jacks in-between sections.

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18. How long will it take to answer the survey for parents/guardians?

The parent survey will take approximately 10 to 20 minutes to complete. If a parent has more than one child enrolled in the study, then the parent should allow an additional 10 minutes to respond to the questions for each separate child.

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19. Will the teachers or school officials have access to the information we provide on the survey?

No, they will not. Only the researchers will have access and all information will be kept confidential. The information you provide will also be separated from your identifying information after the initial data entry. No one in your school, not even your principal, and even your own family will see your responses in the survey unless they are with you and you have given them permission to look at your answers at the time you are responding to the survey. The group that is conducting the study ensures that all the information you give will be treated with utmost confidentiality. Your name will not be connected to any information you give. The list of names connected to the IDs will be in a separate file that can only be accessed by a select few researchers in the group conducting the study.

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20. What should I do if I forget my password?

If you have not changed your password, it is the student’s first name. If you changed your password after your first log-in, then click on the “LOGIN” button followed by the “Forgot Password” link at the top of the WELNET site (next to the green “SUBMIT” button at the top of the main page).

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21. If I have questions about the study, who can I ask?

Several videos that provide information about the study have been prepared.  Here are the links to these videos:

» General information video about the PhysicalGenesis Study

» Video on Information about the Parents’ Survey

» Video on Information about the Students’ Survey

» Instructional video on how to fill out the Food Intake Survey

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Thank you for reading. We hope these answers have helped you be better equipped to participate in the project!

If you still have an unanswered question after reviewing the answers above and watching instructional videos, we would be happy to hear from you:

» Ask a question about the fitness tests or about using WELNET.

» Ask a question about the Health Behavior Survey.