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Participant Information Sheet (PIS)
Version 1 — 19/09/26

Study title: Emotional and Social Loneliness as Predictors of Social Substitution Among Conversational AI Users.

What is the purpose of the study? Conversational AI, such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot, and similar tools, is now widely used for many purposes. Some people may also use AI for social interaction or as a substitute for talking to another person. This study aims to examine whether emotional loneliness and social loneliness are related to the use of conversational AI as a substitute for human social interaction.

Why have I been chosen?
You are being invited to take part in a research study for a Master’s degree in Psychology at the University of Wolverhampton. Before you decide, please read the information below. It explains why the study is being carried out and what taking part would involve. Taking part is your choice. You may take part if you are 18 years or older and currently use conversational or generative AI, such as ChatGPT, Gemini or similar AI chatbots, for any purpose. You do not need to use an AI companionship app or even think of AI as a companion to take part. Approximately 120 adults will be recruited for this study.

Do I have to take part?
No. Taking part is completely voluntary. If you decide to take part, you will be asked to give your consent before starting the questionnaire. You may stop at any time before submitting your answers without giving a reason. There will be no penalty if you wish to do this. After submitting your questionnaire, you may request withdrawal of your responses for up to 72 hours. To do this, you will need to contact the researcher and provide your IP address so that your responses can be identified and removed. After 72 hours, IP addresses will be removed from the dataset and your responses will become anonymous. It will no longer be possible to withdraw your responses.

What will happen if I decide to take part?
You will complete a short online questionnaire. You will be asked some basic questions about yourself and your use of conversational AI. You will then answer questions about loneliness and your experience of using AI. The questionnaire should take approximately 5 minutes to complete.

What are the potential benefits and risks of taking part?
There is no direct benefit to you from taking part. However, your responses may help us better understand the relationship between loneliness and the social use of conversational AI. Some questions ask about loneliness and social relationships. You may find these questions upsetting or uncomfortable. You do not have to continue if you feel uncomfortable and may leave the questionnaire before submitting it. At the end of the study, you will be given a debrief containing details of relevant support services, including Samaritans, Mind and Aware, should your participation raise concerns about your emotional wellbeing.

Will my taking part in the study be kept confidential?
Yes. All information you provide as part of this study will be kept confidential. You will not be asked to provide your name or any other information that directly identifies you. QuestionPro will temporarily retain your IP address for 72 hours solely to allow your responses to be identified if you request withdrawal. The researcher will only use your IP address for this purpose. After 72 hours, your IP address will be removed and your responses will become anonymous. Your survey responses will be stored securely in the researcher’s password-protected University Microsoft OneDrive account. Only the researcher and authorised University staff, where required for supervision or assessment, will have access to the data. You will not be identifiable in the dissertation or any other report arising from the study. Results will be reported as group findings and will not be linked to individual participants. Data will be retained for the current academic year plus six additional years in accordance with university requirements, after which it will be securely deleted.

What will happen at the end of the research study?
The results will be analysed and used as part of a Master’s dissertation at the University of Wolverhampton. The findings may also be used for an academic presentation or publication. Individual participants will not be identifiable.

What if I have a problem or concern?
If you have questions about the study, please contact:

Researcher: Stephen Murphy [email protected]

Research Supervisor: George Farmer [email protected]

If you wish to raise a concern about research being carried out by the University of Wolverhampton, you may contact the University’s Research Integrity team:

Senior Lead for Research Integrity: Professor Prashant Pillai MBE [email protected]

Research Integrity Manager: Miss Jill Morgan [email protected]

Who has reviewed the study?
This study has been reviewed by George Farmer and Paul Gardner as part of the University of Wolverhampton’s research ethics procedures. Recruitment and data collection will not begin until ethical approval has been granted.

Contact for further information
If you would like more information about the study before deciding whether to take part, please contact:

Researcher: Stephen Murphy [email protected]

Research Supervisor: George Farmer [email protected]

Thank you for taking the time to read this information and considering taking part in this study.

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