Experimentation is a prime source of information for the field of psychology. Contact with experimental procedures is required for students enrolled in General Psychology (Psych 101) and may be fulfilled through one of the following two methods. Non-fulfillment of this requirement will result in a deduction from your final course grade total equal to one-half standard deviation of the class distribution of total points (see textbook for information regarding standard deviations). This could lower your final grade a full letter grade (i.e., A to B, B to C, etc.).
Go to the Human Subject Pool System login page.
Option 1: Experimental Participation (Sign-up for Experiments.)
Option 1: Experimental Participation (Sign-up for the human subject pool.)
- This method requires you to participate in several experiments for a total of 3-1/2 hours, equaling seven Research Participation Units (RPUs). Each experiment will provide a specific number of RPUs, allocated in half-hour units, which will be indicated in the experiment’s description. You may choose to participate in any number of experiments, provided that you obtain a total of seven RPUs. The last day for participation is one week prior to the last day of classes (there may be some exceptions).
Note that 1 RPU will be given in exchange for each ½ hour of participation, except in the case of on-line studies that do not require students to come to a lab.
On-line studies will award ½ RPU per ½ hour of on-line study participation. Moreover, students are not allowed to receive more than 2 RPUs by engaging in on-line studies (i.e., two hours maximum).
You will need to register yourself by going to the main Human Subject Pool System page and clicking on "Request an Account". Make sure that you carefully enter your correct email address and select the correct course, instructor, and days/period for which you are registered. If you don't specify this information correctly, there may be subsequent problems with getting your RPUs assigned to you.
You will receive a 6-digit ID number when you first sign into your account. This number will ensure your anonymity when you participate in research. Make sure you have this number available when you attend experiments or complete online surveys as it is how your credit will be assigned. If you provide an incorrect number to your researcher you may not receive credit for your participations. When you receive an email reminder prior to an appointment, the 6-digit ID number will appear in the message.
As in the past, all students not wishing to participate in research have the option of writing a paper instead, but we strongly encourage experiment participation instead (see OPTION 2). - It will be your responsibility to maintain a list of all experiments in which you have participated. RPUs will be given via an online database by the experimenters and will be forwarded to your instructor prior to the final exam. Grade adjustment, penalties for non-participation, missed appointments, etc., will be evaluated by instructors when final grades are computed. You can check your RPUs at your personal page. Do not worry if credit is not assigned until the last week of the semester. Then contact the researcher and, if not response, contact the administrator (e-mail at registration homepage).
- Print out or write down the information provided in the registration confirmation page. The sign-up information will be removed from the web page at some point and the Psychology Department does not have the pertinent information.
- It is your obligation to show up for the experiment on time. If you find that you cannot attend the experiment at the specified time, follow the instructions under My Schedule and Credits (on your Welcome page). Usually you must contact the experimenter prior to the experimental session. To contact the experimenter, use the e-mail provided at the experiment’s description.
- Any complaints about an experiment or experimenter (for example, failure of the experimenter to show up for an experiment) should be sent to the researcher’s e-mail provided at the experiment’s description. If you do not get a response, then and only then contact the administrator whose email is provided on the registration home page.
Participation in an experiment should be an educational experience. Therefore, after you participate in an experiment, the experimenter should provide you with information about the experiment and give you an opportunity to ask questions. You should be aware that when you agree to participate in an experiment, you retain all of your rights and you may withdraw from the experiment at any time without penalty.
Option 2: Two summaries of two published research articles
Option 2: Two summaries of two published research articles
Students who are unwilling or unable to participate as subjects in experiments (Method 1) may fulfill this requirement by submitting summaries of two published research articles. The first summary must be submitted to your instructor by the 7th week of the semester. (Consult your course syllabus or your instructor about the due date of the first paper). Students who miss that deadline must fulfill the requirement via Method 1.
The second summary is due on or before the 14th week of the semester. (Again, consult your syllabus or your instructor about the due date of the second paper).
The papers must be written according to the following specifications:
They must be typewritten, double-spaced, and 2 pages in length.
Articles must be selected from psychological journals and must be relevant to topics covered in General Psychology such as child development, nervous system and behavior, learning, memory, psychopathology, etc. (NOTE: Psychology Today and other summaries that can be located on the Internet are not acceptable sources). Recommended psychology journals include those published by the two major organizations for professional psychologists: the American Psychological Association (APA) and the Association for Psychological Science (APS).
- To see the journals published by the APA, go to:
http://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/index.aspx - To see the journals published by the APS, go to:
http://www.psychologicalscience.org/index.php/publications - You should be able to retrieve articles from most, if not all, of these journals through the Rutgers Library Network:
http://www.libraries.rutgers.edu/
For articles outside of APA and APS publications, please clear your source with your instructor.
Paper Format
1. Construct a face page that includes your name, RUID, course section, date and the words Article Summary.
2. At the top of the next page type the source of the article. Begin with author(s) name(s) followed by year, title of the article, journal name, volume and pages. Here is an example of the expected format:
Rich, C.L., Ricketts, J.E., Fowler, R.C., & Young, D. (1988). Some
differences between men and women who commit suicide.
American Journal of Psychiatry, 145, pp. 718-722.
3. Structure your summary using the following headings:
A. Introduction. State the topic of the investigation and the major question(s) being
addressed including primary hypotheses or predictions.
B. Method. The method section should be subdivided as follows:
Participants. Who or what served as subjects? If human subjects were involved, provide the relevant information, e.g., 103 undergraduate students, 63 females and 40 males.
Instruments. What materials were used? Here you report the instruments or equipment used in the study (questionnaires, observations, tests, injections, mazes).
Procedures. What did the researchers do? What procedures did they follow? For example, "Participants were asked to memorize a list of words under 3 different conditions" (describe the conditions) "and were then tested for their ability to recall the words."
C. Results. Briefly summarize the results. In many instances, results are reported in the context of the statistical methods used in the investigation. You are not expected to be able to understand this statistical information. Instead, go for words and report the major findings
D. Discussion and Evaluation. Describe what you learned from the study. Although a sophisticated methodological critique of the study is probably beyond your reach at this point in your education, feel free to comment on any flaws you find in the research, alternative perspectives not considered by the author(s), and other mattes that captured your attention. In most instances, it will be sufficient to simply declare what you "brought away" with you as a result of studying the article.
Note that one of the primary challenges of this alternative to research participation is to condense a great deal of information into a small (2-page) package. Clear, crisp, descriptive writing is essential.
E. Attachment. Attach a photocopy of the first page of the article you review at the end of your 2-page paper.
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Human Research FAQ
What will I learn here?
The link to the RULES page to the right of the login box ("Please click here to read the rules for student participation") will tell you what is required of you for your course. This page will help you navigate the registration system, and to tell you WHO TO CONTACT when specific problems arise.
What are the basics I need to know?
To start, click on "Request an Account" on the right-hand side of the page. Type in something easy to remember for your USER ID. BE SURE TO type in your e-mail correctly. Double-check exactly what it is before you type it in because this is the number one reason why people have problems with the system. BE SURE TO SELECT the proper course. To do that, double-check the name of your instructor, the day/time you meet, and the room before using the drop-down menu.
The system will send login information to the e-mail address you have typed in. Before you log in for the first time, prepare to devote 20-30 minutes to a prescreen survey (see more information below). After that, you can register for the studies that interest you. The system will send you reminder messages so you won’t miss your sessions. If you know you have to miss a session, please contact the researcher to let them know as a courtesy. The system will also send you a message when you have received your RPU credits. In addition, you can keep track of your points by logging into your account at any time. Important! Do not delay signing up for experiments because they can become scarce as the semester wears on.
Specific Problems:
1. Why can't I create an account?
Because the system is temporarily turned off. It will be turned on shortly, or if you are experiencing this problem between semesters, it will be turned on once the semester has officially started.
2. I created an account but I am not receiving my messages (e.g., my login information).
First, check your spam folder in case the login instructions were read as junk. If your email is not there it is likely you typed in an incorrect email address. In this case please email the Sona administrator to correct your account This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. You will need to provide your username and the name under which you registered in the email to the administrator.
3. What is the pre-screen survey?
Before you log in for the first time, make sure you have 25-30 minutes free because (for most semesters) you'll be completing a one-time-only survey. The survey will increase the scientific value of several studies. It will also help to determine your eligibility for some studies. You will get an invitation via e-mail if you are eligible. You are under no obligation to complete any research study that you are invited to participate in. You are free to choose the projects that interest you the most. If you have questions about the prescreen survey, contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
4. What if I mistakenly selected the wrong course when I registered, or have changed sections since I registered? How can I be sure I get my RPU points?
To switch your course registration information, send your new information (name of instructor, course, and day/time you meet) to the This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
5. When should I expect my RPU points?
Please give researchers at least two weeks for granting you credit. E-mail the researcher with any questions about credit. If you have a dispute with a researcher, then and only then e-mail the administrator with your 5 or 6-digit number, the name of the study, the researcher's e-mail, and the nature of the dispute. To expedite the process, forward or paste the correspondence with the researcher in your email to the administrator so that she or he can better assist you. Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
6. I went to the study and nobody was there. Who should I contact?
The Researcher. She or he should be willing to give you at least partial credit, if not full credit if you, in fact, showed up the right time and place.
7. The Website is acting weird. What should I do?
Website issues, such as getting credit for a study you did not do, or seeing you had credit for a study at one time, and then the points were taken away, or your 5-digit code is suddenly different are issues that can stem from a botched system update by the company who makes the software. When the website is acting strangely, contact the This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Psychology Building
Undergraduate Advising at Tillett Hall