Frequently Asked Questions about Research

How are points awarded?

For each hour you participate in experiments, you will receive one point of extra credit. How that credit is applied to your grade is determined by your instructor and may vary from class to class. You should consult your syllabus or instructor for further clarification.

How many points can I receive?

You can receive 5-10 points of extra credit. Your instructor determines the maximum amount of credit you can earn, so this may vary from class to class. You should consult your syllabus or instructor for further clarification.

How long do experiments run?

Experiments can range in duration from 30 minutes to several hours.

How do I signup for an experiment?

1. Go to the logon page for the subject pool at http://umpsychology.sona-systems.com .

2. Enter your logon and password. Your logon is your first name followed by your last name, with no spaces (e.g., if your name is Thomas Green, your logon is thomasgreen). Your password is your University ID (e.g. 123456789). Note that your University ID is not your Social Security number, and can be found on Testudo at the top of your student schedule.

3. Select “Study Sign-Up”.  A list of experiments will then be displayed.  If you are interested in participating in a given study, select “Timeslots Availible” and then click on “View Timeslots”.  Find a time and date you want and select “Sign Up”. 

4. You will receive an e-mail confirmation of your sign-up and an e-mail reminder of your appointment one day prior to your appointment.

What are my rights as a subject in experiments?

See http://www.umresearch.umd.edu/IRB/IRBbillorights.html

What is the basic procedure for an experiment?

Show up 5 minutes before your scheduled appointment, sign an “Informed Consent” form, complete the experiment, and receive a credit receipt and a more detailed explanation of the experiment and its scientific purpose.

Why do I have to sign an “Informed Consent” form?

The Informed Consent document contains the basic elements of informed consent as identified in and required by the United States governments regulations regarding the protection of human subjects (45 CFR 46).  As required by this regulation, the informed consent document has been reviewed and approved by the University’s Institutional Review Board and must be agreed to and signed by the person participating in the experiment.

Is personal information I provide kept confidential?

Yes. University approved provisions are taken to protect your privacy and to maintain confidentiality of any personal information you provide.

What happens if I decide to leave an experiment after showing up?

It is your right to leave the experiment at any point. If you choose to leave prior to signing the Informed Consent document, you will not receive a credit nor will you receive a penalty or loss of credit. However, if you choose to leave the experiment at any time after signing the Informed Consent document, you will not receive a penalty, but you are not guaranteed to receive credit. It is up to the individual experimenter's discretion as to whether or not you will receive credit for participation.

How do I cancel an appointment?

If you absolutely have to cancel your appointment, the way to do this without receiving a one-point penalty is to:

1. Logon in to Sona Systems (http://umpsychology.sona-systems.com)

2. Click on “My Schedule and Credits”

3. Click on “Sign-Up History” at the bottom of the page

4. Select “Cancel” next to the study that you need to cancel. You must do this at least 24 hours before your appointment time to insure that the one-point penalty does not occur.

What happens if I do not show for an appointment? 

If you do not cancel properly 24 hours prior, you will receive a one-point penalty, which will be subtracted from the points that you have accumulated for participating in experiments.

What if I do not show for an appointment because of an emergency?

If you have documentation of your emergency and you did not cancel your appointment 24 hours in advance, show the experimenter your documentation within a week of your scheduled appointment and you will not receive a penalty.

What do I do if an experimenter does not show up for the experiment?

If the experimenter does not show up within 15 minutes of the scheduled start time, confirm that you had the correct location (sign in and select “View Appointments”).  If you are/were in the correct location, leave a note or email the experimenter with your name, University ID #, and the date and time of your appointment. 

How do I find out how many points I have earned?

Logon to Sona Systems (http://umpsychology.sona-systems.com) and select “My Schedule/Credits”.  Click on “Sign-Up History” at the bottom of the page to see what course you have earned your credit and applied it towards.

How do I change my password?

You cannot change your password. For record-keeping purposes we need to maintain all passwords as they were originally created.

How do I change my email address?

After you have logged on to Sona Systems (http://umpsychology.sona-systems.com) click on. “My Profile” and edit your e-mail address.

What do I do with the credit receipts?

Hold on to them until the end of the semester.  In the unlikely event that an error occurs on the experimetrix.com website, they are your proof of attendance in the experiments.

When is first day to participate in experiments?

Three days after “last day of drop-add.”

When is the last day to participate in experiments?

The last day of classes.

When is the last day to assign my credit(s) to my courses?

Two days after the last day of classes.