General Psychology 101: Human Subject Research Requirement
General Psychology 101: Human Subject Research Requirement
Since experimentation is a prime source of information for the field of psychology, contact with experimental procedures is required in this course 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.).
Sign-up for the human subject pool.
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
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:
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
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:
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 is a guide for Rutgers-New Brunswick students. If you are a Rutgers-Newark student, please go to the RU Newark FAQ
Students are given two options for completing their General Psych RPU requirement
A. Option 1: Experimental Participation (Sign-up for the human subject pool.)
Setting up your account
- You will participate in studies for a total of eight Research Participation Units (RPUs). Each study will provide a specific number of RPUs which will be indicated in the experiment’s description.
1. In-person studies will earn 2 points per half hour (4 points for a full hour)
2. Online studies will earn 1 point per half hour (2 points for a full hour)
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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 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 problems with getting your RPUs assigned to you.
- Before you log in for the first time, make sure you have 25-30 minutes free because you'll be completing a prescreen survey. The survey will determine your eligibility for some studies. You may get an invitation via e-mail if you are eligible. You are under no obligation to complete any study that you are invited to participate in. If you have questions about the prescreen survey, contact the administrator (
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ). - You will receive a 6-digit ID number when you first sign in. This number will ensure your anonymity when you participate in research. Make sure you have this number available when you attend studies 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 participation. When you receive an email reminder prior to an appointment, the 6-digit ID number will appear in the message.
Participating in studies
- It will be your responsibility to maintain a list of all studies in which you have participated. RPUs will be given via an online database by the researchers 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.
- Print out or write down the information provided on 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 study 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 researcher prior to the research session. To contact the experimenter, use the e-mail provided in the study’s description.
- Participation in an study should be an educational experience. After you participate in a study, the researcher should provide you with information about the study and give you an opportunity to ask questions.
- You should be aware that you retain all of your rights and you may withdraw from a study at any time without penalty.
FAQ
When should I expect my RPU points?
Please give researchers at least three business days 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 (
What do I do 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 administrator (
I have a complaint about a study.
Any complaints about a study or researcher (e.g., failure of the experimenter to show up for a study) 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 (
What should I do if I don’t want to participate in research?
All students not wishing to participate in research have the option of writing a paper instead, but we strongly encourage experiment participation instead.
B. Option 2: Psychology in the News
Assignment Overview
Your task is to explore how psychological research is presented in the media. You’ll read and compare two very different kinds of articles. One is a news article reporting on a recent piece of psychological research. The second is the original journal article written by the researchers and that the news article was based on.
Instructions: RPU_Option_2_Assignment_Instructions_.docx
Psychology in the News Topics and Articles RPU_Option_2_Assignment_Topic_and_Articles_List.docx