Participant F.A.Q. (PSY 150/250) By Subjects
SUBJECTS
Alternative Research Assignment
Subject = Sona Systems
How do I sign onto Sona Systems?
What if I did not recieve my Sona Systems login info?
What if my password doesnt seem to be working?
What if I turn 18 during the semester?
Subject = Credits
How many credits do I have to complete?
Who gives me my grade?
Subject = Enrolling & Experiments
When can I enroll in an experiment?
Why cant I find an experiment to enroll in?
Where are the Research Cubicles?
Subject = Forms and Packets
Who do the signature forms go to?
Where is the signature form?
Where can I find a Record Card?
Subject = Alternative Assignment
What is the Alternative Research Assignment?
How do I sign onto Sona Systems?
The initial Signup is done by the Research Coordinator. You will recieve an email at your official CSUN email address with all login information.
The Participant Information Packet has step-by-step instructions with screenshots to show you how to signup for studies. Those directions are in the packet. The packet can be found here.
What if I did not recieve my Sona Systems login info?
First, check the dates for when you will be enrolled. You should receive login info by the fourth week of the semester. Do not contact us if the date has not passed yet as you will be automatically enrolled once the system is ready. Check your CSUN email If you have not recieved your login information by the fifth week.
Complete the prescreen as soon as you are registered in the system.
What if my password doesnt seem to be working?
Make sure you are using your CSUN email address. (Common mistakes include typing @csun.edu into the user ID section. Sona Systems already includes the @csun.edu section, so just enter your information. Jim Jones would be jim.jones or if he had numbers attached it would be jim.jones.74)
If it still does not work, try copy and pasting your password from the email you recieved from Sona Systems. In the event you still are not allowed in, please contact the psychpool email.
What if I turn 18 during the semester?
If you are not yet 18 you are not allowed to participate in the research experiments and must complete the Alternative Research Assignments
If you turn 18 during the semester you have the choice to participate in live experiments or not. The Alternative Research Assignment is your second option, however, you must decide based on how much time you will have available to participate in experiments.
Your professor may allow you to do partial credits and the ARA, or Alternative Research Assignment, if you choose to participate halfway through the semester.
How many credits do I have to complete?
For PSY 150 you must complete 20 credits or 3 hours worth of experiments. If you are in PSY 250 you are to complete 12 credits or 2 hours.
Who gives me my grade?
Your course professor is solely responsible for your grade. However, any actions deemed unethical will be reported to your professor for further action.
How do I make sure my credits are up to date?
Credits are NOT given by the Research Area. Credits ARE given by the researchers who run experiments you participate in.
Please give the researchers about a week to post credits. After that, you can check Sona Systems and contact the researchers by the email listed in the study information.
When can I enroll in an experiment?
Research for experiments will start the First day of the fourth week of each semester. Once experiments go online, you will be able to log onto Sona Systems and enroll in studies which you qualify for based on your prescreen.
Why cant I find an experiment to enroll in?
Make sure you have passed the deadline for the beginning of research.
If it is past the date listed, the experiments are either full or your prescreen has not qualified you for an open experiment. Please check Sona Systems at a later time or date.
The later parts of the semester tend to have more studies, but keep trying to find earlier studies to make sure you do not miss the cut-off date.
Where are the Research Cubicles?
Most of the Research Cubicles are located in Sierra Hall. Some cubicles (330/328/326/324) are located on the north side of the main walkway and some cubicles (333A/B/C/D/E/J/K) are located in the SH 333 hallway.
This link has a map of the third floor of Sierra Hall.
Who do the signature forms go to?
Most signature forms go to your professor.
Where is the signature form?
The signature form is located in the back pages of your Participant Information Packet. The packet is located here.
Where can I find a Record Card?
The Record Card is in the back pages of your Participant Information Packet. The packet is located here. You can also download just the Record Cards from the same page in the link.
What is the Alternative Research Assignment?
The Alternative Research Assignment is a paper written on topics involving human subject research. Articles can be found in journals located in the Oviatt Library.
The paper must be turned into your PSY 150/250 professor and include a full description of your journal as well as the title of the study, the journal it was found in, the date of the article, the author, etc. (in APA format)
Follow this link to the paper details