Guidelines for the North Central
College
Psychology Participant
Pool (PSY 100)
Overview for Participants
Course Requirement
One
of the goals for Psychology: The Science
of Behavior involves your understanding of psychology as a research
science. The Psychology Department
requires students enrolled in PSY 100 to complete research participation credits. This requirement can be met in two ways:
either by serving as a participant in studies taking place on campus, or by
completing an alternative written assignment.
In either case, the goal is to have students become an active part of
the research process and see what it is like to participate in psychology
research and to learn what it is researchers are doing and how they do it. In the end, we hope you will have a better
understanding of the process in general, and to experience several specific research
projects in greater depth. The research
participation requirement is worth 20
points toward your overall grade in PSY 100. Failure to complete the research requirement
will result in a lower course grade.
The Research Studies
The
research studies in which you will participate are designed and run by faculty
and upper-level students. All studies are
reviewed and approved by the Psychology Department to ensure that they do not
violate ethical guidelines set down by the American Psychological
Association. For example, no identifying
information about you will ever be used in connection with the information you
provide. In addition, you will always
have the right to stop participation in these studies if you feel
uncomfortable.
The
number of studies you are required to participate in varies from term to term
and is based on need, taking into account the number of students in PSY 100 and
the number of participants needed in research projects. During the fall term of 2007 you will need to
accumulate five (5) research credits. Many
of the studies will take ½ an hour or less to complete and will earn 1
credit. Those that take between ½ an
hour and 1 hour will earn 2 credits. As
a result, the total time commitment for the fall term will not exceed 2 ½
hours.
When
you arrive for a study, you will be given a consent form to sign. The consent form will advise you of your
rights as a participant in the research and, when possible, provides
information about the purpose of the research study. In some cases, it may not be possible for
researchers to inform you fully about the nature of the study before you
participate, and occasionally you may even be given false information about the
purpose of the study. Studies involving
such deception are only used when true information may influence your behavior
and invalidate the research. However, ALL research studies are required to
provide you with a written DEBRIEFING when you complete the study. This debriefing will tell you the nature of
the study, why it is being conducted, and some information about what the
researchers expect to find. You may
request to receive the results of the study upon completion of the study,
however the results will NOT include any information about your own performance
in the study.
Procedures
How to Sign-Up for
Studies
During
the term, sign-up sheets for studies requiring participants will be posted on
the bulletin board outside the psychology department office. When you sign up, please note the DATE, TIME,
and LOCATION of the study, as well as relevant CONTACT INFORMATION in case you
need to cancel. Up to two (2) hours
before the study begins you may remove your name from the sign-up sheet or
contact the researcher to cancel. Please
note, YOU MUST BE ON TIME, or they may start without you. If that happens, or
if you miss a study entirely, you’ll be counted as a “no-show” (see
below).
Sometimes
different sessions of the same research project will be run on different days
and times, so carefully note the STUDY NUMBERS (which stay the same all term).
You won't get credit if you sign-up to participate for a study you've already
done.
Some
research projects may consist of more than one session. If you are in a
multiple session study, you should be given credit for the study at the end of
each session. Please remember that you'll be going back for another session and
you need not sign up for more studies than you need credits.
If you don’t show up
for a study
It
is important that when you sign-up for a study you make a record of the date,
time, and location so you can show up! If
you fail to show up for a study OR notify the researchers that you can’t make
it at least 2 hours in advance you are a “no show.” Your name will be
reported to your instructor, and you will be required to participate in an
ADDITIONAL study to make up for it. So, since your initial requirement was 5
credits, you will now need to complete 6 credits. You may sign up again for the project you
missed assuming there are sessions available.
If it gets late in the term and all studies have been completed, you may
not be able to make up the additional credit.
Keeping
track of your research participation is YOUR responsibility; it is not your
instructor’s responsibility to notify you that you have missed a study. So, write down all the information as to when
and where the study is and who to contact (and how) if you cannot attend!
Receiving Credit for
Your Participation
You
will be given a yellow participation sheet at the beginning of the term. DON’T LOSE IT! Bring this sheet to each study. After participating, DO NOT LEAVE WITHOUT
HAVING YOUR PARTICIPATION SHEET SIGNED. Once you have completed the required
number of credits, give the card to your PSY 100 instructor. Again, it is your responsibility to obtain the
necessary signatures and turn in the sheet.
Other Considerations
·
If
at any time during the research session you become uncomfortable with the
topic, methods, etc., you may stop participating and still receive credit.
·
If
anyone associated with a research study behaves inappropriately (e.g., asks you
for a date, requests that you participate beyond the scheduled time, etc.),
please contact the Psychology Department Chair immediately (see below)
·
If
a researcher doesn't show up WITHIN 15 MINUTES OF THE APPOINTED TIME you will receive
research credit. However, you need to report
the specific researcher’s absence to the department chair within 24 hours (see
below).
·
Please
don’t sign up or participate in studies during your class time; they are not an
excuse for missing class.
Alternate Assignment
If you choose not to participate in
research studies, you must notify the Psychology Department chair by the end of
the fifth week of the term. You will be given
a written assignment. For each study
credit you will find ONE article describing published research in psychology
from its original source. You will write
a one-page summary of the research and briefly describe the experience of a
participant in that research. The paper
will be evaluated by the department chair to ensure it meets reasonable
standards