Information for schools

Secondary schools and colleges can participate in this project by letting us distribute an online questionnaire among students between the ages of 16 and 20. Results from this research will be used to write scientific articles and presented at conferences, and we will organise a workshop for professionals and researchers to disseminate our insights on what it means for young people to grow up without one’s biological father. With these means we hope to aid policymakers, educationalists/educators and other professionals to develop or optimize interventions that promote the wellbeing of youth in the Netherlands and on Curaçao.

If as a school you decide to participate in this study, one of the researchers of our team will visit your school to oversee the data collection (online or when necessary on paper) on a date and time of your choice. The questionnaire takes approximately 35 minutes to complete and is available in Dutch and Papiamento. Participants will receive an information letter about the study and will be asked to provide consent to take part using an opt-in procedure. The results are completely confidential; we will not make public which schools participate and never talk or write about individual students’ answers. All participants are entered into a lottery for €15,- gift vouchers.

Because of several reasons, participating in this study is interesting for schools. Firstly, the project will lead to a better understanding of (possible consequences of) growing up without biological father. We believe that this knowledge is important to promote positive development of youth in the Netherlands and on Curaçao. What is more, schools are invited to add three questions of own interest to the questionnaire and can thus receive answers to questions they find particularly important for their context. Furthermore, schools will receive informative summaries of survey results (on school level).

Are you interested in this study or would you like to know more? Please contact us by phone or e-mail:

E-mail: m.osinga rug.nl
Phone: 050 363 3184 (Mariëlle Osinga)