This is an invitation to take part in my research. Please take your time to read about my project and how you will be involved if you do so. It will help you to decide accordingly if you want to be a part of my research.
My name is Anoop Unnikrishnan, a PhD Scholar at RV University, working under the guidance of Dr. Merin Thomas, Assistant Dean at the School of Computer Science and Engineering under RV University, with domain expertise provided by Dr. Manoj Sharma, Head of SHUT Clinic at NIMHANS. This study aims to identify compulsive or addictive online trading behavior using AI-based analysis of responses to the Trading Disorder Scale (TDS). The goal is to enable early identification of risky trading behaviors and provide personalized insights for mental health intervention.
You will be asked to complete an online questionnaire based on the Trading Disorder Scale (TDS). This will take approximately 10–15 minutes of your time. You may also be asked a few optional open-ended questions about your trading habits or feelings related to trading. All data will be collected digitally through a secure and confidential web platform. There are no in-person interviews or audio/video recordings involved.
You are being invited because:
Absolutely not. Your participation is completely voluntary. You are free to decline or withdraw at any point during or after the survey without any explanation. You may also request deletion of your responses at any time before analysis begins.
Risks: Some questions may make you reflect on your behavior or emotions, which could cause minor psychological discomfort. If you feel distressed, we encourage you to contact a mental health professional.
Benefits: Your participation will help in the development of tools that could support early mental health intervention. While there are no direct personal benefits, your input contributes to a broader understanding of digital addiction.
All the information you provide will be kept strictly confidential. We will not collect your name, address or any identifying details. Email addresses will not be made available to the outside world. Data will be anonymized and analyzed only for academic and research purposes.
Exceptions to confidentiality apply only in the case of disclosures indicating:
The results will be used in:
All findings will be reported in a way that preserves anonymity. You can request a summary of the results after the research is complete.
Researcher:
Anoop Unnikrishnan
PhD Scholar, RV University
anoopu.phd24@rvu.edu.in
Supervisor:
Dr. Merin Thomas
Assistant Dean, School of Computer Science and Engineering
RV University
merint@rvu.edu.in
Domain Expert:
Dr. Manoj Sharma
Professor & Head, SHUT Clinic, NIMHANS
shutclinic@gmail.com