Psychology as a science relies on research experiments. As a student in a psychology class, you will get the opportunity to take part in some of these experiments as research participants in the Subject Pool. Your experience should be educational. The goal is for you to learn what research is like in general, and you should also learn a little about the experimental hypothesis, design and methods of each experiment in which you participate.
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Mass Testing (MT) is a way for investigators in the Stony Brook University Psychology Department to gain access to a large number of subjects at once. The subjects are our Intro Psychology students, the students which comprise our “Subject Pool”. Investigators may use Mass Testing to either: •Collect mass data only or •Collect mass data and screen subjects for future studies.
FOR EXPERIMENTERS:
•View a copy of the current Mass Testing guidelines
•Apply for your experiment to be included in Mass Testing
FOR EXPERIMENTERS:
•View a copy of the current Mass Testing guidelines
•Apply for your experiment to be included in Mass Testing
MINORS: Students under the age of 18 can still fulfill their subject pool requirement through a variety of experiments.
To find experiments approved for those under 18 years old, read the titles and descriptions of experiments posted on Sona Systems. It will indicate if minors are allowed to participate or not.
To find experiments approved for those under 18 years old, read the titles and descriptions of experiments posted on Sona Systems. It will indicate if minors are allowed to participate or not.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Research Coordinator: Cindy Forman
Psychology B 154
Phone: 631-632-7027
E-Mail: psychsp@notes.cc.sunysb.edu
Research Coordinator: Cindy Forman
Psychology B 154
Phone: 631-632-7027
E-Mail: psychsp@notes.cc.sunysb.edu
•Subject Pool SUMMER 2013:
Last day to participate in experiments is:
SUMMER I: Wednesday July 3rd
SUMMER II: Thursday August 15th
*Check your syllabus for additional deadlines.
If you are enrolled in multiple Psychology courses which require Subject Pool participation, your Subject Pool requirement will be the greater of the two experiment requirements. During the summer only, you can count your experiment credits toward BOTH of your courses that have research requirements during the same summer session. Points earned during Summer Session 1 do NOT count towards session 2.
Do not delay in getting your credits done: Fulfill your requirement early. It is difficult to complete your credit requirement during the last week of classes since many experiments will already be full.
Last day to participate in experiments is:
SUMMER I: Wednesday July 3rd
SUMMER II: Thursday August 15th
*Check your syllabus for additional deadlines.
If you are enrolled in multiple Psychology courses which require Subject Pool participation, your Subject Pool requirement will be the greater of the two experiment requirements. During the summer only, you can count your experiment credits toward BOTH of your courses that have research requirements during the same summer session. Points earned during Summer Session 1 do NOT count towards session 2.
Do not delay in getting your credits done: Fulfill your requirement early. It is difficult to complete your credit requirement during the last week of classes since many experiments will already be full.
STUDENT FAQ
What is the purpose of the Subject Pool?
The Subject Pool refers to a group (a "pool") of students that participate in various research studies conducted by Psychology faculty each semester. The purpose of the Subject Pool is to give students an experience and appreciation of research methods used in Psychology. Your participation in this research also enables Psychology faculty to collect data.
How do I sign up for experiments?
Go to http://sunysb.sona-systems.com/ and register as a new user if you have never used Sona Systems before.
I signed up for Sona Systems as a new user but have not received any log-in information yet. Why?
You likely didn't receive your password because mail servers such as AOL, Hotmail, Yahoo, etc. might mistakenly reject Sona Systems mail as “spam”. This will be a problem for you because you will not receive the e-mails about your appointments or any cancellation notices. You need to set up and use your Stony Brook "Sparky" email account (and entert it in your Sona Systems profile).
Where do I get my Stony Brook “Sparky” e-mail account?
Setting up a Sparky account is easy. Go to any SINC site on campus for help. Please notify the Research Coordinator once you have set up your Stony Brook e-mail address, and change it in Sona Systems.
How can I check my Stony Brook e-mail?
You can check your Sparky e-mail by using the following link: http://webmail.ic.sunysb.edu/.
I used registered on Sona Systems but I forgot my login information. How do I get this information?
You can do the "forgot password" option on the sign-in page. If this does not work, contact the subject pool coordinator for help with your account via e-mail at psychsp@notes.cc.sunysb.edu or via phone (631)632-7027.
I've forgotten the location and/or date of the study I signed up for. How can I find out?
You can check your appointment times and locations on the Sona Systems website. Alternatively, you can stop by the Subject Pool office in Psych B 154, or call the Research Coordinator at (631)632-7027.
I showed up for an experiment and nobody is there. What do I do?
If you arrive for an experiment and nobody is there, check to make sure you have the right time. If you are late for your experiment, even by 5 minutes, the researcher might have left already. If you are on time, give it a few minutes. If the researcher has still not arrived after 15 minutes, contact them via e-mail to explain that you were there for a scheduled appointment. You will not be penalized for a researcher not showing up. You can only be penalized if you were late or missed an appointment.
How do I cancel an appointment that I made?
You can cancel an appointment on the Sona Systems website or by e-mailing the experimenter with whom you have the appointment. Do not call the subject pool coordinator to cancel appointments. Note: Canceling an appointment without 24 hours notice will cause a penalty to appear on your account. A penalty means that you will have to complete an extra experiment in order to meet your participation requirement.
How do I check whether I received credit for a study that I participated in?
You can check your credit balance on the Sona Systems website. It can take a little while for records to be updated, so please be patient.
I participated in an experiment and on the website it still says “awaiting action". Why?
The “awaiting action” simply means that the experimenter has not gotten around to giving you the credit for your participation yet. Experimenters are usually very quick about issuing credits to students for their participation, but sometimes things can be delayed for a few hours or even days. If you are concerned about the pending credit, contact that experimenter directly via e-mail.
I participated in Mass Testing in my Psy.103 course, but I have not been given credit for it. Why?
Since Mass Testing is online, credit is only issued if you complete the study. If you exited the study without completing it, you will not get credit.
I am busy during the day and can only be on campus at night. How will I reach my participation requirement?
Experimenters are very accommodating when it comes to offering a variety of times in which students can participate in experiments. Search the Sona System listings for experiments that offer evening time slots. New time slots are added daily, so if you don’t see a time or day that works for you, check again the next day.
I missed the study I signed up for. Can I sign up for it again?
If you signed up for a study and did not show up for it, you can sign up for a later session of that study if there is one scheduled. However, if you did not cancel your appointment 24 hours in advance, you may have accrued a penalty. Please be sure to cancel appointments 24 hours ahead.
What is the purpose of the Subject Pool?
The Subject Pool refers to a group (a "pool") of students that participate in various research studies conducted by Psychology faculty each semester. The purpose of the Subject Pool is to give students an experience and appreciation of research methods used in Psychology. Your participation in this research also enables Psychology faculty to collect data.
How do I sign up for experiments?
Go to http://sunysb.sona-systems.com/ and register as a new user if you have never used Sona Systems before.
I signed up for Sona Systems as a new user but have not received any log-in information yet. Why?
You likely didn't receive your password because mail servers such as AOL, Hotmail, Yahoo, etc. might mistakenly reject Sona Systems mail as “spam”. This will be a problem for you because you will not receive the e-mails about your appointments or any cancellation notices. You need to set up and use your Stony Brook "Sparky" email account (and entert it in your Sona Systems profile).
Where do I get my Stony Brook “Sparky” e-mail account?
Setting up a Sparky account is easy. Go to any SINC site on campus for help. Please notify the Research Coordinator once you have set up your Stony Brook e-mail address, and change it in Sona Systems.
How can I check my Stony Brook e-mail?
You can check your Sparky e-mail by using the following link: http://webmail.ic.sunysb.edu/.
I used registered on Sona Systems but I forgot my login information. How do I get this information?
You can do the "forgot password" option on the sign-in page. If this does not work, contact the subject pool coordinator for help with your account via e-mail at psychsp@notes.cc.sunysb.edu or via phone (631)632-7027.
I've forgotten the location and/or date of the study I signed up for. How can I find out?
You can check your appointment times and locations on the Sona Systems website. Alternatively, you can stop by the Subject Pool office in Psych B 154, or call the Research Coordinator at (631)632-7027.
I showed up for an experiment and nobody is there. What do I do?
If you arrive for an experiment and nobody is there, check to make sure you have the right time. If you are late for your experiment, even by 5 minutes, the researcher might have left already. If you are on time, give it a few minutes. If the researcher has still not arrived after 15 minutes, contact them via e-mail to explain that you were there for a scheduled appointment. You will not be penalized for a researcher not showing up. You can only be penalized if you were late or missed an appointment.
How do I cancel an appointment that I made?
You can cancel an appointment on the Sona Systems website or by e-mailing the experimenter with whom you have the appointment. Do not call the subject pool coordinator to cancel appointments. Note: Canceling an appointment without 24 hours notice will cause a penalty to appear on your account. A penalty means that you will have to complete an extra experiment in order to meet your participation requirement.
How do I check whether I received credit for a study that I participated in?
You can check your credit balance on the Sona Systems website. It can take a little while for records to be updated, so please be patient.
I participated in an experiment and on the website it still says “awaiting action". Why?
The “awaiting action” simply means that the experimenter has not gotten around to giving you the credit for your participation yet. Experimenters are usually very quick about issuing credits to students for their participation, but sometimes things can be delayed for a few hours or even days. If you are concerned about the pending credit, contact that experimenter directly via e-mail.
I participated in Mass Testing in my Psy.103 course, but I have not been given credit for it. Why?
Since Mass Testing is online, credit is only issued if you complete the study. If you exited the study without completing it, you will not get credit.
I am busy during the day and can only be on campus at night. How will I reach my participation requirement?
Experimenters are very accommodating when it comes to offering a variety of times in which students can participate in experiments. Search the Sona System listings for experiments that offer evening time slots. New time slots are added daily, so if you don’t see a time or day that works for you, check again the next day.
I missed the study I signed up for. Can I sign up for it again?
If you signed up for a study and did not show up for it, you can sign up for a later session of that study if there is one scheduled. However, if you did not cancel your appointment 24 hours in advance, you may have accrued a penalty. Please be sure to cancel appointments 24 hours ahead.
Non-Native Speakers of English: Non-native speakers of English can still fulfill their subject pool requirement through a variety of experiments.
To find experiments approved for non-native speakers of English, read the titles and descriptions of experiments posted on Sona Systems. It will indicate if non-native speakers are allowed to participate or not.
To find experiments approved for non-native speakers of English, read the titles and descriptions of experiments posted on Sona Systems. It will indicate if non-native speakers are allowed to participate or not.
Experimenter FAQ
I have an experiment and I would like to use the Subject Pool to collect data. What do I do?
Faculty and Graduate Students are given research accounts on an as-needed basis. If you do not have a researcher account on Sona Systems and would like one, contact the subject pool coordinator. Within this account, you will have the ability to list multiple experiments. The experiment will not be visible until the Subject Pool Coordinator approves the experiment and confirms the CORIHS approval numbers. If you have not yet received CORIHS approval for your experiment, contact the Research Compliance office, or visit their website by clicking HERE.
How do I use the Sona Systems website?
There are many documents available to assist you:
Sona Systems Instruction Manual
Sona Systems PowerPoint Tutorial
When can I start listing time slots for experiments so that students can sign up?
Students will not learn about their Subject Pool participation requirement until their instructors inform them about it. This is done in the first week of classes. Some students may start looking for experiments immediately, while others may wait until the end of the semester. Either way, it is important for you to provide a variety of time slots for students beginning the first week of classes.
When is the last day that I can run subjects using the subject pool?
During the Fall and Spring semesters, students are given up until the last day of classes to meet their research participation requirement. In the Summer semesters, this may vary slightly. Please see the latest copy of the STUDENT GUIDELINES for specific date information.
I have an experiment and I would like to use the Subject Pool to collect data. What do I do?
Faculty and Graduate Students are given research accounts on an as-needed basis. If you do not have a researcher account on Sona Systems and would like one, contact the subject pool coordinator. Within this account, you will have the ability to list multiple experiments. The experiment will not be visible until the Subject Pool Coordinator approves the experiment and confirms the CORIHS approval numbers. If you have not yet received CORIHS approval for your experiment, contact the Research Compliance office, or visit their website by clicking HERE.
How do I use the Sona Systems website?
There are many documents available to assist you:
Sona Systems Instruction Manual
Sona Systems PowerPoint Tutorial
When can I start listing time slots for experiments so that students can sign up?
Students will not learn about their Subject Pool participation requirement until their instructors inform them about it. This is done in the first week of classes. Some students may start looking for experiments immediately, while others may wait until the end of the semester. Either way, it is important for you to provide a variety of time slots for students beginning the first week of classes.
When is the last day that I can run subjects using the subject pool?
During the Fall and Spring semesters, students are given up until the last day of classes to meet their research participation requirement. In the Summer semesters, this may vary slightly. Please see the latest copy of the STUDENT GUIDELINES for specific date information.
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GO MOBILE!
Sona Systems app available. Look for "Sona Mobile" in the app store!
Sona Systems app available. Look for "Sona Mobile" in the app store!