Table of Contents
GETTING STARTED: What do I have to do?
First, you must go to the SONA (http://pennstate.sona-systems.com/). When you arrive, you will log in using your Penn State access ID (e.g., xyz123) and your regular Penn State password. Once you initially log in, you will be asked to answer a few short demographic questions that can help researchers determine if you are eligible for specific studies throughout the semester.
Each student in PSYCH 100 and PSYCH 105 must sign-up and participate in 6 total “hours” or “credits” of research or the equivalent in alternative assignments. You may sign-up for research and/or alternative assignments via the SONA website.
If you are 18 years or older, SONA will present you will available research and/or alternative assignments that you can complete to fulfil your 6 credits.
IMPORTANTLY, If you are younger than 18, you cannot participate in research. SONA will present you available alternative assignments that you can complete to fulfil your 6 credits.
Partial credit is awarded for students who participate in less than 6 “hours” or “credits”. Most studies and alternative assignments are 1 hour long or less. You have until the last week of classes (before finals week) to complete the 6 required “hours” or “credits”.
Please check your Penn State email regularly for Subject Pool/SONA information. Sometimes email about SONA are inadvertently filtered into your junk mail or spam folders. Please check these folders to make sure that you do not miss out on important SONA information.
What if I am 17 now, but will turn 18 during the semester?
If you are 17 now, but will turn 18 during the semester you, you have two choices:
- You can sign into SONA immediately and you will see “Research Alternative” assignments.
- Upon turning 18 years old, you can sign into the SONA system and change your age to 18. Once you change your age you will see research opportunities, as well as alternative assignments.
Research Participation Information for Adults (18 years or older)
Why do I have to do it and what will I learn?
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? Questions like these are addressed by researchers in our psychology department. 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. You will be required to complete 6 credits of research activities and research participation will count as 3% of your course grade (in other words, if you do not participate in any research activities you lose 3% of the total course points).
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. To learn about varied methods in psychological research, university park students will participate in both online and laboratory-based research. World campus students will complete requirements all online.
How do I sign up to participate in research?
You need to make appointments with researchers to participate and earn course credit. Use the SONA web site (http://pennstate.sona-systems.com/) to make appointments. When you arrive, log into SONA using your Penn State login, click on “VIEW AVAILABLE STUDIES.” Click on the name or the “Timeslots Available” box for the study you want to learn more about. Please pay attention to the information about eligibility. Not everyone is eligible to participate in every study. Read the information about the study carefully. If you are interested in participating, click on “View Time Slots for This Study.” Click on the sign-up box for the time you want.
Ideally, 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. However, you can choose to complete all of your research credits early in the semester. You should not wait until the end of the semester though because there may not be enough slots available.
How do I get credit once I participate in research?
Students will receive course credit, not money, for participating in the studies included in this subject pool. Students are welcome to participate in studies offered outside of the pool that offer monetary compensation, but those studies cannot be used to meet subject-pool participation requirements.
Researchers will update your Subject Pool account electronically. You can check to see if your credit has been updated electronically by using the SONA 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.
You are required to participate in 6 hours of research activities. If you miss more than one scheduled appointment without canceling or contacting the subject pool administrator, 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 3% of your course grade. Clearly, the best strategy is not to have any unexcused absences.
What if I made an appointment, but I can't remember when or where 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, 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.
We ask that you please cancel more than 24 hours in advance. To cancel an appointment, log onto the SONA web site and use the ‘View or cancel my study appointments” located under the “My Schedule& Credits” heading. If it is less than 24 hours before the appointment, you should contact the experimenter directly (using the information listed). Try to contact the experimenter directly (phone, in person) if you need to give short notice. Researchers are typically very accommodating and happy to work with you.
Please be aware, however, that the experimenter is not obligated to agree with your request to cancel when given less than 24 hours’ notice. This is because some experiments require a day or more to prepare and are costly 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), please email the subject pool administrator (psychsonaupwc@psu.edu) to explain.
What if I had an emergency and couldn't cancel in time?
Contact the subject pool administrator (psychsonaupwc@psu.edu). Please do not contact the experimenter, your instructor, or your TA.
What if I show up for an experiment and no one else is there?
First, go to the SONA 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 the subject pool administrator (psychsonaupwc@psu.edu) with details.
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. Students who participate in 6 or more hours without getting a “no show” will also earn an additional percentage point of extra credit. Please see your course syllabus for information about how this additional participation will count towards your course grade.
Is research participation safe?
Qualified researchers review each study before it is cleared for use. Most studies ask you to do simple tasks (e.g., paper-and-pencil tasks, computerized tasks, read a map, watch videos, express opinions). You will not be asked to do anything that is harmful or dangerous.
Also, importantly, 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 do not, 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.
Alternative Assignment Information
What are 'Alternative Assignments'?
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.
Signing up for Research Alternatives: What do I have to do?
Use the SONA website to access the research alternative: http://pennstate.sona-systems.com/.
Once on the website, click “VIEW AVAILABLE STUDIES” to see the research alternative assignments.
The research alternative assignments are all handled through the SONA system. In other words, these assignments are completed and turned in online. There is no need to hand in a physical copy of your assignment to your instructor. Credit for the research alternative assignments will be granted a few days after the due date for the assignment has passed.
How do I get credit once I complete a research alternative?
Your credit will be updated electronically, usually a few days after the participation deadline. You can check to see if your credit has been updated by using the SONA web site (use the ‘My Schedule/Credits’ link).
Note: The SONA 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.
Useful Documentation
There are resources provided by the developers of our subject pool software.
Online resources for student participants (link to website)