Consequently, all students enrolled in Psychology 100 are required to sign-up for a total of two hours of departmental research investigations. Students who have objections to participating in ANY psychological research should check the Research and Facilities Website for information on the alternative assignment (e.g., summarizing an article from a behavioral or animal scientific journal). Upon receipt of an acceptable substitute assignment from the student, the professor making the alternative assignment decides whether the research requirement has been satisfactorily completed.

1. Throughout the semester, sign-up sheets for departmental investigations will be posted in the lobby of the Peoples Building. The sign-up sheets will indicate the name of the investigation, the location and time of the study, the name of the faculty supervisor of the study, a telephone number for contacting the investigator should you need to cancel your appointment time, and tear-off reminder slips.

2. You should print your name and the name of your PSY 100 instructor and class hour in an appointment slot that is convenient for you, and tear-off the corresponding appointment reminder slip.

3. It is your responsibility to remember the time of your appointment, and the name and location of the study. The tear-off reminder slips are provided for that purpose.

4. Once signed for, appointments cannot be changed unless the investigator has been directly contacted about the change and the reason for it.

5. You must report to the investigation at your scheduled time. Failure to keep the appointment, or arrival more than ten minutes late, will result in your owing an additional one-hour of participation. If the experiment has already started when you arrive, you may not be allowed to participate. If this happens, you need to sign-up for another time.

6. If the investigator is not at the designated room within ten minutes of the appointment time, you should leave a note on the door indicating that you were there at the appointed time and go immediately to the Psychology Office and leave a note in the faculty supervisor’s mailbox informing him/her of the investigator’s failure to keep the appointment.

Upon arrival at the investigation, you will be provided with two copies of the consent form. The consent form describes the nature of the study and its procedures including what your task and/or role will be. You should feel free to ask any questions you might have about the investigation.

Upon reading the consent form and discussing your questions with the investigator, you will be asked to sign both copies of the form to indicate your willingness to participate in the investigation. If you agree to participate, you will turn in one copy of the consent form to the investigator and keep the other copy for your records (this is your "proof" of participation). You may choose not to participate after you’ve been instructed on the nature of the experiment. If you decide not to participate, turn in one copy of the consent form and leave. You will be given full credit. Even if you initially agree to participate, you may still terminate your participation at anytime during the investigation without penalty. Each participant may request a written description of the study upon its conclusion. This description will include references, which you may wish to explore if you find the topic interesting.

Occasionally, whole classes may be asked to participate in a research project by filling out a self report questionnaire during class time or at other designated times. Participation in such projects can also be used to fulfill the research participation requirement if the amount of time required for this project warrants such credit.

Your Psychology 100 Professor will keep records of participation. Investigators will have you sign your name to a record form which will be forwarded to your professor informing him/her of the amount of credit you are to receive for your participation. Investigators will also inform the Psychology 100 Professors of any additional participation you owe as a result of missed appointments.

Note: You must be 18 years old to volunteer for departmental research studies. Please do not sign-up for a research study unless you are 18 (or will be 18 by the day of the investigation). If your age prevents you from participating in departmental research, see the Psychology Department Website or call the department secretary (Ms. Carla Martin at x2945) for information on the alternative assignment.

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