SmartyPants - Research Participation Consent Form

Research Participation Consent Form

Project Name: Tween and Teen Gaming

Research Method: Virtual video interviews with follow-up digital activities

Research Company: Smarty Pants, LLC, 14 Dove Tree Lane, Jonesborough, TN 37659, USA

Research Leaders: Paige Davis [email protected]; Kieran Duffy [email protected]; and Toni Green [email protected]

What is the purpose of this study?

In this study, we are exploring how people express their fandom for video games, like Fortnite, and expectations and desires for products associates with video games.

Who is conducting the study?

Smarty Pants, LLC (‘Smarty Pants’), an independent research firm based in the USA.

This research is sponsored and funded by a corporate client of Smarty Pants, (Client). The Client will be revealed at the conclusion of the research to prevent any response bias.

What will participating in this project involve?

If you agree to participate in the project, your child will be invited to take part in a research project that will involves three parts:

Tech Check: A 10-minute tech set up and check with the recruiting agency to ensure the computer and mobile device that will be used by your child during the interview have Microsoft Teams uploaded and ready for the research.
Virtual Video Interview: Using Microsoft Teams on their home computer/laptop as well as their mobile device, your child will be asked to join an interview. During the interview, we will ask them to show us things they own that represent their interests, to screen share while gaming on Fortnite and to comment on ideas for products related to Fortnite and gaming in general. The interview will require 75-minutes of time. The interview will be audio and video recorded for the purpose of later analysing the discussion to identify themes and opportunities.
Digital Activities: Using an online platform accessible via the computer or a mobile device, your child will be asked to complete a series of video, image and text-based activities requiring 60-minutes of their time. The activities will be follow-up questions regarding the types of products they would like to see related to Fortnite and other video games. During this activity, they will see some ideas shared by other kids close to their age (based on rages of 9 – 12 or 13 – 17). Those ideas will be reviewed by a Smarty Pants researcher before they are shared with the group.

Do I have to take part?

No, it’s completely up to you whether or not you take part in the study. If you agree to participate, you are free to change your mind at any time without giving a reason.

What am I consenting to?

This consent is the lawful basis for Smarty Pants to collect, process and transfer personal data you provide, to the minimum extent necessary, for the purpose of fielding and administratively supporting the research project described above. This consent is also a release of intellectual property rights and an assignment of those rights, if applicable, to Smarty Pants and/or Client. This consent also serves as a waiver of the right to file legal claims against Smarty Pants and/or Client related to participation in the research.

You are consenting to: (initial each)

Allow the recruiting agency to share your personal data with Smarty Pants to communicate with you about the study. This includes First and Last Name, Phone Number, Email Address and information you share during the screening call about gaming, toy ownership and any relevant conditions/diagnoses for your child.

You may access, change, erase, object to or restrict the use of this information at any time and for any reason by contacting Smarty Pants Data Compliance Officer: Terrance Tyree at [email protected] or +1-203-847-5766. You may access our full privacy policy here: https://asksmartypants.com/privacypolicy
Providing your personal data will not subject you to automatic decision making or profiling by automated systems.
Your consent for processing your personal data ends when the purpose of informing and supporting this research project has been completed, or when you choose to stop participating, to the extent that occurs before the project is completed. At that time, Smarty Pants will remove from its systems and destroy any, and all, of your personal data that it has received.

Allow Smarty Pants to record (either audio, photo or video) your responses, opinions and ideas related to research questions.

audio, photo or video recordings may be used in reports or videos provided to Client and used internally, by them, to inform business decisions in whatever manner they see fit.
You are not consenting to public distribution of your audio, photo or video, and your personal data, as well as your opinions and ideas, will be held by Smarty Pants and Client in strictest confidence.

Allow Smarty Pants to transfer your personal data, via secure email, and to be stored and processed on our password-protected and encrypted systems in the United States.

There is risk any time your personal data is transferred, even with the use of data systems that include data protection by design, such as the data systems utilized by Smarty Pants. No method of transmission is 100% secure; as such, we cannot absolutely guarantee the security of information transmitted to us, which shall at all times be at your own risk. We are not responsible for circumvention of security measures we provide.
Smarty Pants has put safeguards in place to minimize that risk by implementing and maintaining generally accepted NIST level 3 security standards. Smarty Pants participates in the EU/U.S. and Swiss/US Data Privacy Framework Services Program as set forth by the U.S. Department of Commerce and the Insights Association regarding the collection, use, and retention of personal information transferred from the European Union, the United Kingdom and Switzerland, as applicable to the United States.
Only authorized personnel shall have access to personal data, which shall apply to Smarty Pants employees, agents, and third parties.
Smarty Pants is committed to ensuring that all personal data that is received or transferred to us is handled in accordance with all applicable law.

Allow Smarty Pants to share your information with our partners that have demonstrated compliance with applicable data security laws including the GDPR, so they may assist Smarty Pants, if necessary, in completing the purpose of the research project, as well as with Client directly, for the purpose of the study.

This may include, but not be limited to, our partners who provide a research location, transcribe a research discussion, or send out participant incentives.
Smarty Pants will remain accountable for the protection and security of your personal data when transferred to our partners to the extent required by law.
You may contact us if you would like to know more about which parties, if any, we shared (or intend to share) your information with, and for what purposes.
All third parties receiving your information must keep confidential the information disclosed and use it only for the purpose for which it was disclosed.

Allow Smarty Pants or Client to be the rightful owners of any intellectual property rights arising from this research, including but not limited to, copyright, patent, trade secret and trademark rights.

You understand that your participation in the research, and any and all creations or developments from the research are works made for hire and you do hereby sell, assign, and transfer to Smarty Pants or Client and their successors and assigns, the entire right, title and interest in and to all works related to, derived from, or incorporating this research regardless of copyright applications.

Release Smarty Pants and Client and any and all of their owners, affiliates, employees, agents, subsidiaries, successors and assigns from any and all claims that you may have, or which may arise, known or unknown, related to your participation in this research project, including, without limitation, any claims for loss, injury, death, or damage to property, and regardless of negligence of any of the parties listed above.

You acknowledge that the study shall be conducted on premises or digital platforms neither owned, nor controlled by Smarty Pants or Client, and waive any claim against either party under any theory.
If this waiver against either Smarty Pants or Client is limited by applicable law, you agree to waive any claims to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law.

I agree that I will not disclose to any third parties during or after the completion of the Project any information provided to me as a part of this Project, in any form, as I understand that the content and subject matter of this research is not public information and may not be shared.

What are the possible benefits of taking part?

There will be no immediate benefits for you, but by taking part in this study you can help us better understand the types of products people want to see related to video games.

To thank you for taking the time to talk to us, you will receive a total of £90 for your satisfactory completion of your participation in all three phases of the research Project (the “Incentive”). You will be paid the Incentive via PayPal sent in email after successful completion of all online activities.

Are there any risks?

No. There is no known risk if you take part in this study.

Contact details:

If you wish to contact us about the research or have questions or complaints about the use of your personal information, including receiving a copy, changing the information, deleting your information or limiting how it is used, please contact:

Data Compliance Officer – Terrance Kennedy

Email: [email protected]

Tel: +1 203-847-5766

Smarty Pants

14 Dove Tree Lane

Jonesborough, TN 37659 USA

Main contact for the study. If you have any questions about the project, have trouble with this consent form, or would like to stop participating, please contact me at:

Kieran Duffy

Email: [email protected]

CONSENT:

I confirm that I have read and understand the information provided for this study. I have had the opportunity to consider the information and ask for clarification. I have had any questions answered satisfactorily. I have provided my initials for each topic area of consent as a confirmation of my understanding and agreement.

I hereby give my consent for participation in the described research project by me and/or my minor child.

If participant is under 18 years of age:

Minor Participant Name (Printed):

Date:

Thank you for agreeing to take part in this study.

We appreciate your participation and value your opinions.

Adult Participant’s Name (Printed):

Leave this empty:

Your legal name

Your email address

Please Confirm full name and signature.

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November 24, 2025 9:35 am BST

SmartyPants - Research Participation Consent Form Uploaded by Georgie Chaffey - [email protected] IP 82.148.32.25

November 24, 2025 9:57 am BST

Take Part - [email protected] added by Georgie Chaffey - [email protected] as a CC'd Recipient Ip: 82.148.32.25