Credit Pool Participant
Frequently Asked Questions
Getting Started
Experiment Participation
1. How many experiments do I have to sign up for to meet my Psychology 1 experiment hours requirement?
You must participate in 7 hours of experiments. Two of these hours must be fulfilled by participating in the Pre-selection and Q-Day experiments (each count for one hour of experiment participation). Experiments are offered for either 30 minutes or 1 hour. You’ll receive 0.5 credits for a 30 minutes experiment and 1.0 credits for a 1 hour experiment. If you are under 18, make sure you fill out the appropriate paperwork. Back to top.
2. Why are we doing this?
By participating, you gain valuable first-hand knowledge of experimental psychology and contribute to the advancement of the field. Back to top.
3. What are these experiments studying?
There are many different kinds of experimental work being done, on such topics as aggression, social behavior, competitiveness, dreaming, color perception, spatial relations, learning and memory. The ways in which you participate in studies may differ. In some you may be asked to read text and later answer questions; to play a game or do role playing; to rate the similarity between different objects; to respond to certain things while you response time is measured; or you may be asked to fill out a survey. Back to top.
4. How will I learn about the process? Will I be debriefed? What does it mean to be debriefed?
After you have participated in a study, the experimenter will give you information about the nature of the research either immediately or later in writing so that you learn more about the studies to which you have contributed. Feel free to ask questions during this time – experimenters will be more than happy to discuss their studies with you. You may often get as much (or more) out of the discussion following the experiment as you do during the actual participation. Your debriefing should include the following information: (1) What is being studied; (2) the experimenters’ hypothesis; (3) the basic design of the experiment; (4) how your participation will be utilized and your answers and your answers evaluated in the study; (5) any results of the study so far. If the experiment involves a follow-up or some special demand for secrecy, then you should be debriefed later on. If you feel your debriefing is unsatisfactory, ask the researcher to explain it to you more thoroughly. If you are still dissatisfied, contact hscoordinator@lists.stanford.edu . Back to top.
5. Where do I go to sign up for Sona Systems?
Go to http://stanfordpsychology.sona-systems.com/ and click "Request an account". If you are under 18, make sure you fill out the appropriate paperwork.
Complete the registration form, read the consent form (also provided in hard copy), and click Request account. Sona Systems will send an email to you with log in information and a link. Click on the link provided and enter your user name and password. Back to top.
6. How do I log on to Sona Systems?
Signing on to Sona Systems is simple, but it requires that you follow a few rules. First, if you are under 18, make sure you fill out the appropriate paperwork. Then go to http://stanfordpsychology.sona-systems.com/ and click on “Request an account here.”
Complete the registration form and click Submit Registration. Sona Systems will send an email to you with sign in information and a link. Click on the link provided and enter your user name and password.
Once you are signed in, you will be asked to fill out a demographics questionnaire. This questionnaire is used by experimenters to find out if you will be eligible for their study. Further questions may be asked in the Pre-Selection experiment.
When you’ve completed the demographics questionnaire, you’ll be sent to a main page. Click on the Studies tab at the top of the page to see a list of experiments. Click on the study title to find out more information. Click on “View timeslots for this study” to sign up for the experiment. Some experiments aren’t open to all participants and may require an authorization code. If this is the case, find another experiment in which you might be interested. Back to top.
7. What’s the demographics questionnaire?
The first time you sign into Sona Systems, you will be asked to fill out a demographics questionnaire. This on-line questionnaire, composed of about 20 questions, is used by experimenters to find out if you will be eligible for their study. This is not an experiment, and you will not receive credit for this questionnaire. Further questions may be asked in the Pre-Selection experiment. If you are under 18, make sure you fill out the appropriate paperwork. Back to top.
8. Once in Sona Systems, how do I sign up for experiments?
Log into Sona Systems. When you’ve completed the demographics questionnaire, you’ll be sent to a main page. Click on the Studies tab at the top of the page to see a list of experiments. Click on the study title to find out more information. Click on “View timeslots for this study” to sign up for the experiment. Some experiments aren’t open to all participants and may require an authorization code. If this is the case, find another experiment in which you might be interested. If you are under 18, make sure you fill out the appropriate paperwork. Back to top.
9. I can’t sign into Sona Systems. Help.
If you have trouble logging in, it might be because you are using a saved link or a bookmark when accessing the website. The Sona Systems system will send you a strange message if you do, and will not allow you to sign in. The system also gets glitchy when you try and sign in after someone else has signed in using the same browser. Make sure you close the browser and open a new one every time to sign into Sona Systems. If you are under 18, make sure you fill out the appropriate paperwork. If you are still having trouble, contact hscoordinator@lists.stanford.edu. Back to top.
10. What do I do if I’m under 18?
If you are under 18, there are two forms that you are required to submit before being allowed to participate in experiments. One of them requires a parent’s signature. These forms and more information can be found here. Back to top.
11. When do experiments start?
Experiments start the second week of the quarter. They are not all set up at the same time, so be sure to keep checking back periodically for more studies. Back to top.
12. When do experiments end?
The last day to complete experiments is the last day of class. Back to top.
13. Are there any required experiments?
Yes, Pre-selection and Q-day are required. Back to top.
14. I’m getting a weird message when I try to log into Sona Systems. Help.
If you have trouble logging in, it might be you are using a saved link or a bookmark when accessing the website. The Sona Systems system will send you a strange message if you do, and will not allow you to sign in. The system also gets glitchy when you try and sign in after someone else has signed in using the same browser. Make sure you close the browser and open a new one every time to sign into Sona Systems. If you are still having trouble, contact hscoordinator@lists.stanford.edu. Back to top.
15. What if I don’t want to participate in experiments?
If you do not wish to participate in experiments, you may also satisfy the requirement by writing a 5-page paper on the ethics of experimentation in the field of psychology on human and non-human animals. Please contact hscoordinator@lists.stanford.edu by the first exam if you intend to take this option. The essay is due on the day of the second exam. Back to top.
16. Who do I contact if I have a question?
If you have a question about Sona Systems or experiment participation that is not covered in this FAQ, please contact hscoordinator@lists.stanford.edu . If you have a question about a particular study please contact the researcher listed on the Sona Systems study information page. If you have a question about the alternative assignment contact the PsychOne Coordinator Kelly McGonigal and kmgc@stanford.edu by the first exam. Back to top.
17. What if I don’t feel comfortable in an experiment?
All research has been approved by the Stanford University Human Subjects Committee. However, you are not obligated to complete any experiment which you may find stressful. You may discontinue participation in any experiment by notifying the experimenter that you wish to stop and you will still receive credit for your participation.
By participating in this research, you are providing a valuable service to the Psychology Department, and you are contributing to the advancement of Psychological knowledge. As an integral component of the research done in the department, you should expect to be treated with respect and kindness. Your participation in Psychological research should be not just an educational experience, but a pleasurable one as well. If you have any complaints about any component of this experience, please contact hscoordinator@lists.stanford.edu or the Department Manager, Priscilla Fiden (pfiden@stanford.edu, (650) 725-2404). Back to top.
18. Are Pre-selection and Q-day required experiments? What are they?
It is strongly suggested that you participate in each of these sessions You’ll receive one hour for each experiment. Pre-Selection is a way for experimenters to find out more about you and see if they would like to contact you for their study. Researchers send out invitations to participate in their studies to people who meet their eligibility criteria based on pre-selection responses. If you do not participate in Pre-selection you will not receive any invitations and you may have a difficult time completing all 7 hours. Q-Day is a series of questionnaires that experimenters use to collect data for their research. Both of these experiments require you to fill out a questionnaire packet for one hour. You sign up for these experiments in Sona Systems. If you cannot make one of the sessions or if the session(s) are full, contact the experimenter (listed in Sona Systems) before the session and ask what you can do to make it up.
Pre-selection is held the third week of class and Q-day is held the fifth week of class. Each is held for only 1 week. If you miss this week you cannot participate in the study.
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19. What if I cannot make a Pre-selection or Q-Day session?
If you cannot make one of the sessions or if the session(s) are full, contact the experimenter (listed in Sona Systems) before the session and ask what you can do to make it up. Back to top.
20. How long before an experiment do I need to cancel?
We would encourage you to give the experimenter 24 hours notice before you cancel an appointment. We realize in some cases this is not possible, so we allow you to cancel an experiment 12 hours prior to your scheduled session without penalty. If you cancel an experiment within 12 hours of your scheduled session or do not show up for your session, you may be penalized up to 1 credit. This means you’ll receive negative credit in your account. Remember that you need to complete 7 credits to complete your participation requirement for Psychology 1. If you have questions about your credit for a particular experiment, please contact the experimenter and hscoordinator@lists.stanford.edu. Back to top.
21. What happens if I don’t show up to a study?
If you cancel an experiment within 12 hours of your scheduled session or do not show up for your session, you may be penalized up to 1 credit. This means you’ll receive negative credit in your account. Remember that you need to complete 7 credits to complete your participation requirement for Psychology 1. If you have questions about your credit for a particular experiment, please contact the experimenter and hscoordinator@lists.stanford.edu. Back to top.
22. What happens if an experimenter doesn’t show up to the experiment?
We ask the experimenters to abide by the same cancellation rules as we expect you to abide by. We encourage the experimenters to give the participant 24 hours notice before they cancel an appointment. We realize in some cases this is not possible, so we allow them to cancel an experiment 12 hours prior to the scheduled session. If they cancel within 12 hours of the scheduled session or do not show up, you will be awarded credit for the study. If you have questions about your credit for a particular experiment, please contact the experimenter and hscoordinator@lists.stanford.edu. Back to top.
23. What happens if my experiment runs over the scheduled time?
If you are participating in a 30 minutes study that runs 15 minutes or more over the scheduled time, you will be awarded 1.0 credits. If you are scheduled for a 1 hour experiment that runs 15 minutes or more over the scheduled time, you’ll be awarded 1.5 credits. Back to top.
24. Will new/more experiments be posted?
Experiments start the second week of the quarter. They are not all set up at the same time, so be sure to keep checking back periodically for more studies. There should always be some studies posted in Sona Systems. If you do not see any studies or time slots listed please contact the Human Subjects Coordinator. Back to top.
25. What is an authorization code?
Some experimenters only want a particular group of people for their experiment (e.g. left-handed females over 20). If this is the case, they will email the participants that meet their needs and give them an authorization codes. These participants can use this authorization code to sign up for experiments. If you have not been given an authorization code, you will be unable to sign up and must choose another study. You must participate in Pre-selection to be emailed invitation codes. Back to top.
26. Why can’t I sign up for this study?
Some experimenters block enrollment to their study because they are only looking for a particular group of people. They may use an authorization code to prohibit people outside of that particular group from signing up. If you are under 18, you may be unable to sign up for a particular study (though this is pretty rare). Back to top.
27. How do I know how many credits I’ve completed?
Log in to Sona Systems. When you are at the main page, click on the My Schedule/Credits tab at the top of the page. Here you will find a list of experiments for which you have received credit. You may see negative credit. This is assigned when you cancel an experiment within 12 hours of the scheduled session or if you do not show up for an experiment. If you have questions about your credit for a particular experiment, please contact the experimenter and hscoordinator@lists.stanford.edu. Back to top.
28. What happens if I do not fulfill my experiment participation hours requirement?
If you do not complete 7 hours of experiment participation, you’ll receive an incomplete for Psychology 1. You will be required to complete your full 7 hours during a subsequent quarter in order for your grade to be released. Back to top.
29. Why did I receive negative credit?
If you show up to an experiment late, you may not be able to complete the study and may be awarded negative credit up to -1.0 credits. Additionally, if you cancel an experiment within 12 hours of your scheduled session or do not show up for your session, you may be penalized up to 1 credit. This means you’ll receive negative credit in your account. Remember that you need to complete 7 credits to complete your participation requirement for Psychology 1. If you have questions about your credit for a particular experiment, please contact the experimenter and hscoordinator@lists.stanford.edu. Back to top.
30. I can’t find the room for my experiment. Help.
The room for your experiment will be listed in Sona Systems under the Appointments tab. Please print out the information for your scheduled experiment, so that you’re sure you have the correct information. There is not a public computer available for you to check Sona so come prepared. If you show up to an experiment late, you may not be able to complete the study and may be awarded negative credit up to -1.0. Back to top.
31. I want to sign up for two experiments that are back-to-back, but Sona Systems won’t let me. Why? And what should I do?
Sona Systems cannot accommodate experiments that overlap in any sense (e.g. one ends at 3PM and one begins at 3PM). If you cannot schedule an appointment because of this “overlap,” feel free to contact the experimenter. They may be able to sign you up manually and assign credit after the fact. Back to top.
32. Now that I have completed my Psychology 1 requirement, I would like to participate in studies for money. What do I do?
Go to http://stanfordpsychpaid.sona-systems.com/. This is a separate Sona Systems website. You will follow the same procedures as you did when you signed up for the credit pool If you have any questions about the paid pool please contact the Human Subjects Coordinator, hscoordinator@lists.stanford.edu, for more information. Back to top.
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