Department of Psychology

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Subject Pool FAQ for student research participants

Research Participation Information for Adults (18 years old or older with no objection)

Jump down to information for minors and conscientious objectors

Some people, described as conscientious objectors, may refuse to participate in research on the basis of religious or moral principles or beliefs. The information below is for people that are 18 years of age or older who do not have a conscientious objection to participating in experiments or research studies.

Why do I have to do it?
What is the best therapy for depression? Do some people really have a photographic memory? Do birds of a feather flock together or do opposites attract? For the most part, the material taught in psychology courses is the product of psychological research. To increase your familiarity with psychological research, all PSYCH 100 and PSYCH 105 students are required to participate in research activities sponsored by the Psychology Department that are offered through the departmental Subject Pool. This research participation will count as 5% of your course grade (in other words, if you do not participate in any research activities you lose 5% of the total course points).

Students in some 200-level psychology courses may also get opportunities to participate. Students in these courses should consult the course syllabus to learn how participation will count towards the course grade.

What am I going to learn?
Research participation provides opportunities for students to see and experience the methods and procedures used to study the human mind and behavior. Participation can also help students dispel myths about psychological research (most of it does not involve rats and mazes, inkblots, or hypnosis) and become better consumers and critics of studies reported by the media. Since careers involving scientific psychology require research, participation can also help students preview aspects of psychology as a career.

What do I have to do?

First, you must go to a special web site called the Subject Pool (http://pennstate.sona-systems.com/) and create your Subject Pool account. When you arrive, it will look like you can just type in your Penn State ID and Password to access the Subject Pool – you can't. The Subject Pool system is independent of other Penn State systems, so you must set up an independent account. To set up your account, click on the 'Request an account here' link located under the ‘New Participant’ heading on the left side of the screen. You will need to enter a User ID – enter your Penn State user id (e.g., xyz123). Once you set up an account, you MUST check your PSU email regularly for Subject Pool information. Sometimes email about the Subject Pool is inadvertently filtered into your junk mail or spam folders. Please check these folders to make sure that you do not miss out on important Subject Pool information (including new account information).

IMPORTANT: If you change sections of PSYCH 100 after you have created your Subject Pool account you MUST contact Sherri in 111 Moore Bldg. (863-1811, sbg4@psu.edu) to have your course status changed. Otherwise, your credit information could go to the wrong instructor, and may not be counted in your course grade.

Second, PSYCH 100 and PSYCH 105 students must sign-up and participate in 6 total hours of research studies. Partial credit is awarded when students participate in less than 6 hours. Most studies are 1 hr. long, but a few are longer (2 hrs. or more) and some are shorter (1/2 hr.). If an experiment does not take the entire time (e.g., a 1 hr. experiment only takes you 50 min), you are still awarded the full time.

Students in participating 200-level psychology courses should consult the course syllabus to learn about participation requirements.

Group Testing (a.k.a. The Mass Screening)
Group Testing (a.k.a. The Mass Screening) is a great opportunity to start earning research participation credit early in the semester. If you participate, you will get an opportunity to see a variety of surveys and questionnaires used by psychologists. The goal of Group Testing is to identify students with certain attributes (e.g., women or men with certain personality characteristics) that might be willing to participate in follow-up studies. You can participate in Group Testing even if you do not want researchers to use your data or do not wish to participate in follow-up studies.

Please do NOT wait to be contacted about follow-up studies. Even if you are contacted, participating in a follow-up study is usually not enough to fulfill the entire research participation requirement. ALL STUDENTS should take the initiative and participate in experiments posted on the Subject Pool web site throughout the semester.

Is research participation safe?
Qualified researchers review each study before it is cleared for use. Most (but not all) studies ask you to do some kind of simple task (e.g., paper-and-pencil task, computerized task, use a map, watch videos, express opinions, etc.) You will not be asked to do anything that is obviously harmful or dangerous.

Also, (and this is important) researchers MUST get your consent before beginning the study. Researchers are required to explain experimental procedures and give you the chance to ask questions before you participate. If they don't, or if you find the procedure objectionable, you can choose not to participate. You may also choose to stop participating at any time if you become uncomfortable with the procedures.

How do I sign up to participate in research?
You need to make appointments with researchers to participate and earn course credit. Use the Subject Pool web site (http://pennstate.sona-systems.com/) to make appointments. Typically, it takes researchers a few weeks to get research studies ready. You should plan to complete one hour of research participation within the first few weeks of the semester, more hours throughout the middle weeks of the semester, and your final hour or two in the final weeks of the semester.

How do I get credit once I participate in research?
Researchers will update your Subject Pool account electronically. You can check to see if your credit has been updated electronically by using the Subject Pool web site (use the 'My Schedule/Credits' link). It may take researchers a few days to update your credit.

Note: The Subject Pool web site tracks your research participation. Your instructor tracks your other course credit separately.

Unexcused missed appointments (aka "No Shows")
Keeping appointments is very, very important. First, most experiments require a lot of work to prepare, so it is rude to skip the appointment when someone has prepared for you. Second, when you sign up and then skip the appointment you take an opportunity to earn course credit away from another student.

At the beginning of the semester, you are required to participate in 6 hrs. of research activities. Unexcused missed appointments (a.k.a. “no shows”) increase your overall participation requirement. Each time you miss an appointment, your participation requirement increases proportionally. For example, if you miss a 1/2 hr. experiment, then you will be required to complete 6 1/2 hrs. of research activities to earn full course credit. If you miss a 1 hr. experiment, then you will be required to complete 7 hrs. of research activities to earn full course credit. If you miss both a 1 hr. experiment and then a 1/2 hr. experiment, then you will be required to complete 7 1/2 hrs. of research activities to earn full credit. If you miss too many appointments, you may not be able to complete the participation requirement and earn the full amount of credit.

If you complete the research participation requirement fully, you will earn 5% of your course grade. At the end of the semester, your instructor will calculate your total research participation credit by dividing the number of hours of research participation you have completed by the number of hours required. You will then we awarded a proportional amount of course credit. For example, if you participate in 6 hrs. of research activities, but you missed a 1 1/2 hr. experiment, then your instructor will divide your 6 hrs. earned by 7 1/2 hrs. required, showing that you completed 80% of the requirement. You would be awarded 80% of 5% of your course grade (.80 * 5 = 4), or 4%. If you missed a 1 1/2 hr. experiment, raising your participation requirement to 7 1/2 hrs., but completed 7 1/2 hrs., then you would receive 100% (7.5 hrs. required/7.5 hrs. earned = 100%) of the course requirement, or all 5%. Clearly, the best strategy is not to have any unexcused absences.

What if I made an appointment, but I can't remember where or when it is?
You can use the 'My Schedule/Credits' link to view appointment information. Note that this button only appears after you've created a personal account and signed up for a research activity. Once you select the relevant study, you'll see a list that includes all of the needed information.

If you make an appointment with a researcher over the phone or through email (as a follow-up to Group Testing), you are responsible for getting contact information from the person who contacts you.

What if I have to cancel an appointment or contact the researcher?
To see contact information for the researcher use the 'My Schedule/Credits' link and then select the relevant study.

As long as you cancel more than 24 hours in advance, you can usually cancel an appointment without penalty. To cancel an appointment, log onto the Subject Pool web site and use the 'My Schedule/Credits' link. If it is less than 24 hours before the appointment, you must contact the experimenter (using the information listed). Try to contact the experimenter directly (phone, in person) if you need to give short notice.

The experimenter is not obligated to agree with your request to cancel. This is because some experiments require a day or more to prepare. If the experimenter refuses to cancel, then you must keep the appointment or you will receive a "no-show." If you feel that this is unfair (because of a truly unavoidable emergency), then see Sherri in 111 Moore Bldg. (863-1811, sbg4@psu.edu) and she will mediate).

What if I had an emergency and couldn't cancel in time?
Contact Sherri in 111 Moore Bldg. (863-1811, sbg4@psu.edu). She has a form you can fill out to request that the "no-show" is removed. Please do not contact the experimenter, your instructor, or your TA. See Sherri.

What if I show up for an experiment and no one else is there?
First, go to the Subject Pool web site and click on the 'My Schedule/Credit Check' link to make sure that you went to the right place at the right time. If you did, then please contact Sherri in 111 Moore Bldg. (863-1811, sbg4@psu.edu) and she'll look into this for you.

Can I do more than the required amount for extra credit?
For PSYCH 100 and PSYCH 105 students the answer is - YES. Once you have completed 6 hours of participation, you are welcome to participate in up to 2 more hours for extra credit. Please see your course syllabus for information about how this additional participation will count towards your course grade.

Research Participation Information for Minors and Objectors

Federal laws restrict participation in experiments and research studies to students who are 18 years of age or older. Some people, described as conscientious objectors, may refuse to participate in research on the basis of religious or moral principles or beliefs. The information below is for people that are not yet 18 years of age and for people that have a conscientious objection to participating in experiments or research studies.

Why do I have to do it?
What is the best therapy for depression? Do some people really have a photographic memory? Do birds of a feather flock together or do opposites attract? For the most part, the material taught in psychology courses is the product of psychological research. To increase your familiarity with psychological research, all PSYCH 100 and PSYCH 105 students are required to participate in research activities sponsored by the Psychology Department. This research participation will count as 5% of your course grade (in other words, if you do not participate in any research activities you lose 5% of the total course points).

What do I have to do?
First, you must go to a special web site called the Subject Pool (http://pennstate.sona-systems.com/) and create your Subject Pool account. When you arrive, it will look like you can just type in your Penn State ID and Password to access the Subject Pool – you can't. The Subject Pool system is independent of other Penn State systems, so you must set up an independent account. To set up your account, click on the 'Request an account here' link located under the ‘New Participant’ heading on the left side of the screen. You will need to enter a User ID – enter your Penn State user id (e.g., xyz123). Once you set up an account, you MUST check your PSU email regularly for Subject Pool information. Sometimes email about the Subject Pool is inadvertently filtered into your junk mail or spam folders. Please check these folders to make sure that you do not miss out on important Subject Pool information (including new account information).

Second, PSYCH 100 and PSYCh 105 students must complete 6 'research alternatives' (see below for more info); each is worth 1 hour of research participation. Partial credit is awarded when students participate in less than 6 hours. Sometimes minors can participate in special minor-approved experiments. When these special minor-approved experiments become available (this happens rarely) you are welcome to participate...but you don't have to if you don't want to. Each hour of participation replaces 1 research alternative.

What are 'Research Alternatives'?
Research Alternatives are on-line tutorials that require students to read about and experience psychological phenomena. Students are required to complete a written assignment as they go through each tutorial. Research Alternatives have deadlines and must be turned in (at 111 Moore Bldg.) by the due date.

How do I access research alternatives?
You need to use the Subject Pool web site (http://pennstate.sona-systems.com/) to access research alternatives. When you arrive, select the 'Study Sign-Up' link and follow the on-screen instructions. Click on the link for the research alternative you want to do. Click on 'View Time Slots for this Study' and then click on the 'Sign Up' button. Click on the 'View Website' link. The worksheet will open (Adobe Acrobat Reader required). Follow the instructions on the worksheet. Please pay attention to the due dates!

How do I get credit once I complete a research alternative?
Do not hand your completed research alternatives to your instructor or TA. Once your assignment has been completed (correctly), drop it off in 111 Moore Bldg. (Dept. of Psychology Advising Office - open 7:00-12 and 1:00-5:00 M-F) before the due date. Your credit will be updated electronically (usually on the first of the month and right before finals). You can check to see if your credit has been updated by using the Subject Pool web site (use the 'My Schedule/Credits' link).

Note: The Subject Pool web site tracks your research participation. Your instructor tracks your other course credit separately.

Can I do more than the required number of Research Alternatives for extra credit?
For PSYCH 100 and PSYCH 105 students the answer is - YES. Once you have completed 6 hours of participation (6 research alternatives), you are welcome to complete up to 2 more for extra credit. Please see your course syllabus for information about how this additional participation will count towards your course grade.

What if I turn 18 during the semester?
You are welcome to contact Sherri in 111 Moore Bldg. (863-1811, sbg4@psu.edu) after you turn 18 and ask to have your account changed so that you can participate in experiments....BUT, you don't have to. You may also continue to complete the research alternatives to earn research-participation credit.

This page was last updated on 08-06-07.