Research Study
Research study requires an online system account, which allows you to:
- look at research experiments that are currently available for your participation;
- choose which one you want to participate in, and
- sign up for a time that fits your schedule.
Here’s what you do.
Step 1: SIGN UP for Experiments
1. If you are not already logged-in, go to http://queenscollege.sona-systems.com and log-in with your username and password. (If you have FORGOTTEN your password, click on the “Lost your Password?” link)
2. Click on the “STUDY SIGN UP” section. You will see a list of studies with open timeslots. You can click on any experiment to read more about it, or to sign-up. (Note: You may find no experiments available when you check the web site. Don’t panic. Experiments are posted on the web all semester as they become available. Sometimes this is not for a week or so into the semester. Try to make a habit of logging in as frequently as possible throughout the semester to check for open experiments).
3. To sign up for an experiment, click on the experiment name. You will see a description of the experiment and slots for signing up. You can sign up for any slot that is not already closed. Sometimes experimenters may ask you to contact them by email to arrange a specific appointment. Be sure to carefully read the material accompanying each experiment. NOTE: You may participate only one time in a specific experiment.
4. WRITE DOWN the date, time and location of the time slot that you sign up for, and the contact information for the researcher running the study. If you forget, you can go back into the system and click on the MY SCHEDULE tab to see the information. After you sign up for an experiment, it will be listed as “Awaiting Action from Researcher.” This section will change to reflect the number of credits you have received, after you participate in the experiment.
STEP 2: DO the Experiment
1. You may cancel an appointment without penalty up to 24 hours before the study by clicking the “CANCEL” button under the MY SCHEDULE tab. If for some reason you have an emergency and you have to cancel within 24 hours of the appointment, please email the researcher directly. The researcher’s email can be found under “STUDY INFORMATION,” by clicking on the name of the study in the MY SCHEDULE tab.
2. Be sure to arrive on time for your appointment. If you fail to show up for an appointment without canceling with the researcher in advance, an email is automatically sent to the Study Pool Administrator.
If you fail to show up for two appointments without cancelling in advance, your account will be de-activated, and you will have to complete the research requirement by writing papers. If your account is de-activated, do not try to register for a second account on Sona using a different email address: this will show up on your instructor’s roster as a duplicate name, and any credits you earn with your second account WILL BE IGNORED.
3. You may cancel an appointment up to 24 hours before the study by clicking the “CANCEL” button under the MY SCHEDULE tab. If for some reason you have an emergency and you have to cancel within 24 hours of the appointment, please email the researcher directly. The researcher’s email can be found under “STUDY INFORMATION,” by clicking on the name of the study in the MY SCHEDULE tab.
4. After you participate in a study, the researcher will issue your earned credit online. You can track your study credits at any time by clicking on the MY SCHEDULE/CREDITS Tab. Don’t worry if you don’t see the credit right away; please give the researcher two days to enter your credit in the system. Remember, up to one hour of participation time = 1 credit, more than one hour = 2 credits, more than two hours = 3 credits.
Your Rights as a Participant in the Subject Pool
1. You are entitled to have the nature of your participation explained before you agree to participate.
2. Participation in studies is completely voluntary. If anything about an experiment makes you feel uncomfortable, or you feel that you do not want to continue, you are free to decline to participate, to end participation at any time, or to refuse to answer any individual question. If you feel you must end your participation, you will receive credit equivalent to the time you have completed.
3. You may request that the data from your participation be destroyed. You will still receive credit for participating.
4. You are entitled to have the experiment explained to you after you participate.
5. If you arrive on time for an appointment but the experimenter is not there, you should inform Dr. Justin Storbeck (the Subject Pool Administrator). You can email him at justin.storbeck@qc.cuny.edu, or leave a note in his mailbox in the department office SB-E318. Include the name of the study, the time and date of your appointment, and your phone number. If you feel that your rights have been violated in any way or you have any questions about your participation, you may contact Dr. Storbeck
Contact
If you have any questions about your participation in an experiment, contact your instructor or the Subject Pool Administrator, Dr. Justin Storbeck, at justin.storbeck@qc.cuny.edu. DO NOT ask the department secretaries about the subject pool.