Information for Students Participating in Research

There is a research experience requirement for PSYC 100 that may be fulfilled in either (or both) of two ways:

1.      Participation in Psychology Department faculty/student research studies,

2.      Writing a review on a Psychological Research article.

This requirement is intended to broaden your knowledge of the methods of psychology and to give you “hands on” experience related to psychological research. Your participation in psychology research is also important in that you will be contributing to the academic community by helping professors and fellow students with their research on thinking, problem solving, memory, relationships, social behavior, etc.  To do this work we need people with all types of interests, experiences, and opinions.

Psychology majors may get something extra.  You will learn how psychology research is conducted.  You may decide you would be interested learning more, participating as an experimenter in a research lab or even in pursuing research of your own.

All students must register at  http://bridgewaterstate.sona-systems.com to receive credit for their research participation and/or article reviews.  See details below.

Please note:

1.      Studies vary in units – typically either .5 unit (30 minutes) or 1 unit (60 minutes).  You must combine the appropriate studies to total at last 2 units (2 hours) worth of participation.  Study lengths are clearly posted, although you can always check with the Research Lab Coordinator.

2.      Research participation (or completion of the article reviews) is a departmental requirement, and is not at the discretion of your professor.  Credit for research participation or for the article reviews is not monitored or “graded” by your professor, is not included as a percentage of your course grade, and your professor cannot waive the requirement. 

3.      For students enrolled in classes other than PSYC 100, you may participate in research to fulfill a course requirement or for extra credit as your professor deems appropriate.  However, you may not receive credit for the same study for more than one course.

Option 1:  Research Study Participation

Faculty and students in psychology conduct research in their areas of  interest.  In order for the research to be conducted, we need help from

volunteers.  Your participation in a study will also allow you to learn how scientific research is conducted.

                                    All research at BSU that uses volunteers is reviewed by the

                                    Institutional Review Board.  This Board is in place to ensure that all

                                    research involving human subjects meets all ethical requirements.

NOTE:  Research participation is NOT required.  If for any reason you do not wish to participate in a research study, you do not have to do so.  You may earn your required units by option #2. (See page 4)

HOW TO PARTICIPATE IN RESEARCH STUDIES:

All students must sign up for participation in a research study by using our new Psychology Research Participation System at http://bridgewaterstate.sona-systems.com.  This is a simple way for you to sign up for studies, cancel a scheduled participation and track your completed units.  Once you log into the system, you will be able to view a list of available studies, along with any restrictions.  ONLY STUDIES POSTED ON SONA COUNT TOWARDS THE RESEARCH EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENT FOR PSYCH 100 STUDENTS.

Studies are available from the first day of classes until the last day of classes.  DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE END OF THE SEMESTER TO SIGN UP!

On your first visit you must register as a new user and obtain a password.  To do this:

1.      Look in the lower left-hand corner of the window to find the New Participant link.

2.      Click on New Participant, Request an Account Here

3.      Enter:

a.       Your name,

b.      Your email address,

i.        Be sure to enter an existing email address.  Your password and login information will be sent to that address in a few seconds.  The logon information will be sent by “Research Participation System”.  Do not mistakenly delete this message as “spam”. 

ii.      You can change your password under “My Profile” after you log in.

c.       A user ID of your choosing (you must enter a user ID) and,

d.      Select the course to which you want your units applied. 

i.                    Be sure to select the correct course! 

1.      Look at your syllabus and match the course, section, and instructor with the course you choose on the scheduling system. 

2.      IF YOU DO NOT DO THIS YOU MAY NOT RECEIVE CREDIT!

ii.                  The unit from one study may be applied to only one course.  If you are doing extra credit for another course, you will need to complete a third unit of participation.  When doing so, update your profile to include the different course.

After you receive your login and password by e-mail (remember this takes just a few seconds) return to http://bridgewaterstate.sona-systems.com.           

1.      Enter your login and password.  (If you like, you can change your password when you logon.)

a.       Note:  You will not be able to sign up for experiments until you activate your account by logging on.

2.      After logon, you will be able to sign up for experiments, change your password, and view your appointments and units earned.  You may also cancel your scheduled appointment. 

a.       If you need to cancel your appointment, you should do so on-line as soon as possible. 

i.                    The researcher will be notified of the cancellation, and will, therefore, not wait for your arrival at the study.

3.      If you make an appointment, but do not show up, it will be counted as an unexcused no-show. 

4.      You may NOT participate in the same study more than once, nor may two on-line studies be counted towards your requirement.

Studies

            You may view studies, sign up for studies, and even cancel your scheduled participation through the system.

            To view a list of studies, click on “Studies” from top toolbar.  The name of the study, a brief description, and any special requirements will be listed here, as well as the researcher’s contact information in case you have any additional questions about the study.  Studies that have current availability times will say “TIMESLOTS AVAILABLE”.  You may also select a specific date to view studies with available timeslots on that date.  If no studies are currently available, you should check back a few days later.  New times are constantly being added.

            To sign up for a study, click on “View Timeslots”.  Choose a timeslot that is convenient for you and when you will not be rushed.  Do not assume that because you or your friend completed a study in less time that the experience will be the same for another study or another person. You must participate in good faith to get credit, so plan accordingly. 

To cancel a timeslot that you have signed up for, click on “My Schedule and Credits” page.  There will be a “Cancel” button next to each study.  Once you click on “Cancel” you will see a confirmation page.  Click “Yes” to cancel your sign-up and the sign-up will be cancelled immediately.  You can also use this section to track your units earned

To avoid duplicate data, you may complete any given study only once.  If you are viewing a study which you have already participated, the system will not allow you to register for it again. 

Day of Study

Please report on time to the proper location.  You will be asked to turn off your cell phone, will be briefed on the study and expectations of your participation, and given the opportunity to ask questions.  You may opt out of participating in the study at any point during the briefing and the actual study.

Upon completion of the experiment the researcher will give a debriefing. Again, you are free to ask any questions.  You will also be given a card as proof of your participation of that study for that day/time.  Within 24 hours after your participation, the researcher will post your credit on the Psychology Research Participation System.  If you do not see the unit listed within two days, you should contact the researcher or the Research Coordinator at fbarth@bridgew.edu.  If there is any discrepancy, you may then show your participation card as proof.

Option 2:  Article Review Alternative

                        The article review alternative for earning units is designed primarily for students who, for one reason or another, are not able or do not wish to participate in research projects. 

                        One unit is earned for each article review completed successfully.  Therefore, if you are planning on completing your research experience requirement through option 2,

                        you will need to complete two article reviews.  If you want, you may earn units through a combination of both options 1 and 2.

How to complete the Article Review

1.      Email Fran Barth, the Research Coordinator, at fbarth@bridgew.edu to request an article review

2.      One article, along with the guidelines for the writing of the review, will be emailed back to you. 

a.       One article will be sent at a time.  If you intend to complete two article reviews, request the second article after sending in your first article review.

3.      Since the article review is worth one unit, the assignment should not take more than one hour.

4.      The report must be typed, spell-checked and double spaced.

5.      To receive credit, you must include all of the following information at the top of your paper:

a.       Your name, email and date

b.      The class and section number for credit, along with the Professor’s name

c.       The name of the article

6.      Any review that is entirely or partly copied word-for-word from an article is plagiarized.  This is not acceptable.  You will not receive credit.  Plagiarism is a serious offense that could lead to your expulsion from the University.

7.      When you complete the article review, email it back to the Research Coordinator as an attachment.  You will be notified within a week as to whether your review has been accepted.

The last day to request an article is Wednesday, December 5^th and the last day to submit the article review is Wednesday, December 12^th.

Frequently Asked Questions

§  What happens if I don’t complete two units of research or the article review alternative?

Your professor will post an “Incomplete” for your final grade.  You will have one semester to either participate in research or complete the article review alternative.  After that your Incomplete becomes an “F.”  If you receive an Incomplete, e-mail the Research Lab Coordinator for more detailed instructions.

• If I have participated in two studies, have I fulfilled the requirement?

Not necessarily.  Remember studies vary in length.  Check the study description when you sign up: it will note how long the study will take and how many units you will receive.  You will need to mix and match the studies (and perhaps the alternative article review) to total at least two units (hours) worth of participation.

• Can I participate in the same study twice?

No, you will only receive credit for your first participation.  If you are unsure whether you have already participated in a study, you should contact the Research Lab Coordinator.

• Can I participate in two on-line studies?

No, you will only receive credit for your first on-line participation.  You will not receive credit for the second on-line study.

• How will I know I have fulfilled the requirement?

You may check your units earned on the Research Participation website and/or with the Research Coordinator.

• I can’t find a study at a time I can participate.  What should I do?

Studies and study times change weekly, over the course of the semester; so, monitor the website often.  If you are concerned, contact the Research Lab Coordinator with the times you are available and we will try to accommodate you. 

• Where do I find out about the optional article review?

You may arrange for the article review assignment by emailing the Research Lab Coordinator – fbarth@bridgew.edu.   You will receive an article to read along with instructions.

• Can I participate in research if I am not yet 18?

Perhaps.   Researchers need special permission from the University to administer a study to a participant who is not yet 18, and the participant must have a signed parental consent form.  PSYC 100 students who are not yet 18 can always complete two units worth of alternative article reviews to fulfill the research participation requirement.  

• Can I participate in research during holidays, on weekends, reading days or during finals week?

If the University is closed, we cannot run research.  No experiments will be conducted on reading day or during finals week as it would violate BSU policy.  

A study administered on the internet may be completed at any time of the day and on any day of the week, but still must be completed by the last day of classes for the semester in order to fulfill the requirement.

• What if I signed up, but can’t make it to the experiment?

You should cancel your appointment on the website as soon as possible.  The researcher will be notified, so that they do not wait for you.

• What if the only experiment time that fits my schedule has a full signup?

You might try showing up anyway, because there may be room for you to participate.  It is possible that someone who signed up has cancelled or that the number of signup slots was arbitrary.  Let the experimenter know that you are an “extra” and they will make every effort to accommodate you.  The experimenter’s job is to collect data, and we are always glad when someone shows interest, so we will try not to turn you away.

• Whom do I ask if I want more information about a study or about conducting research?

The experimenter may or may not be able to answer specific questions about the study.  You may want to ask your professors how you may become involved in conducting a research study.  Or, you should contact the Research Lab Coordinator and schedule a time to meet to discuss opportunities.

For more information, Fran Barth, the Research Lab Coordinator, may be contacted by email at fbarth@bridgew.edu or phone 508-531-2533.  Or, feel free to stop by the office in Hart Hall Room 329