Welcome! You are invited to take part in a study on the policies and practices used to tackle harassment, sexual harassment and violence against women using and accessing buses. Before you decide to complete this survey, it is important for you to understand why the research is taking place and what it will involve. Please take time to read the following information carefully. You can direct any questions by email to the lead researcher Dr Lucy Baker (lub59@aber.ac.uk).
Thank you for considering taking part.
What is the purpose of the project?
We are conducting a piece of research that is looking at the experience of women using and accessing buses particularly relating to their safety with the aim of making bus services more inclusive for women and girls. The study examines the different practices and policies used to tackle sexual harassment, harassment, and violence against women by relevant stakeholders. The findings may be disseminated at conferences, to industry stakeholders, and in published articles. The results will contribute to a training program to be piloted with a bus operator.
Find out more about the project here: Gender+ Bus - The Transport and Health Integrated research NetworK (THINK) Gender+ Bus Gender+ Bus Wales (aber.ac.uk)
Why have I been invited to take part?
You have been asked to take part because of your relevant job role as a senior manager of a bus or coach company, which means you are a key stakeholder involved in delivering bus services and/or safeguarding passengers.
What will happen to me if I take part?
Taking part in this research is entirely voluntary. Completing the survey will take approximately 25-30 minutes. By completing it you will be giving your consent to be involved in the study. If you decide to take part you can withdraw from the study up until 31st May 2023 without giving a reason.
After this date the research will have been prepared for analysis and write-up and your data (anonymous responses contributing to the study) cannot then be retrieved. To withdraw from the study please email the lead researcher Dr Lucy Baker (Lub59@aber.ac.uk) stating that you would like to withdraw and in the email please give your unique receipt or response number that will be given to you with your completion receipt at the end of the survey (3 sets of digits separated by hyphens). This receipt can be downloaded or emailed to you.
Will my taking part in this project be kept confidential?
Your survey responses will be anonymous. The researcher(s) analysing the dataset will not be able to identify individuals or companies contributing to the survey. We will not hold any personal data about you unless you choose later to particpate in a research interview. You are very welcome to do so if you would like to give more indepth details, thoughts and feedback on the topics raised by contacting Lucy Baker to express your interest. You can also request an interview instead of completing this survey.
The data from the survey will be in the form of survey responses, which will be anonymised using unique codes so that you cannot be identified in the research in any way. Any qoutes used from the qualitative text responses will be given a pseudonym. Only the research team and JISC (the survey platform) will have access to your anonymous data. In accordance with the terms and conditions of funded research, it is possible that the research data collected within this project may be required to be deposited in an approved data repository for archiving and sharing. All data will be fully anonymized before it is deposited, and no individual will be identified in the archived data.
Does the project conform to GDPR guidelines?
This research is being conducted in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation guidelines. The data controller for this project will be Aberystwyth University (AU). The AU Data Protection Manager provides oversight of AU activities involving the processing of personal data, and can be contacted at infocompliance@aber.ac.uk. Your personal data will be processed for the purposes outlined in this notice. The legal basis that would be used to process your personal data will be ‘a task in the public interest’. If you are concerned about how your personal data is being processed, please contact AU in the first instance at infocompliance@aber.ac.uk. If you remain dissatisfied, you may wish to contact the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). Contact details, and details of data subject rights, are available on the ICO website at: https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/data-protection-reform/overview-of-the-gdpr/individuals-rights/
Who has reviewed the project?
This project has been reviewed and approved by the Department of Psychology’s Research Ethics Committee, Aberystwyth University, in accordance with the British Psychological Society’s Code of Ethics and Conduct. The researchers are required to conduct the research in accordance to these guidelines.
What are the possible disadvantages and risks of taking part?
Some of the questions relate to incidents of sexual harassment, harassment, and violence to women in the public that yourself or colleagues may have observed, or that you may also have experienced at any point in your life. There is a low risk that you may find completing some of the questions asked to be emotive, which may, in turn, cause upset. Should this be the case, you could approach one of the sources of support listed below.
In the unlikely event that you have cause for complaint, please contact Nigel Holt, Head of Psychology, referring to the study title, at the address below.
Contact for further information
Lucy Baker, Principal Researcher, lub59@aber.ac.uk (arrangements, enquiries, withdrawal from study)
Nigel Holt, Head of Psychology, nih12@aber.ac.uk (in case of complaint)
Sources of support
Concern Cymru Counselling in-person South Wales and online – 07765 199725; email admin@concerncymru.org.uk
C.A.L.L. Community Advice and Listening Line - emotional support and advice – 0800 132 737/ text ‘help’ to 81066
The Live Fear Free Helpline - support to individuals who have experienced, or are concerned that someone they know may be experiencing any form of violence or abuse – call 0808 80 10 800/; text 07458 143 415; e-mail info@livefearfreehelpline.wales
BAWSO - practical and emotional support to survivors from ethnic minorities who have experienced violence - 0800 731 8147; email info@bawso.org.uk.
New Pathways - Mid, West, East and South Wales, - counselling and specialist support for survivors of recent and non-recent rape and sexual abuse – 01685 379 310 enquiries@newpathways.org.uk.
A more comprehensive list of UK support groups is available using this link:
Support - Women's Equality (womensequality.org.uk)