Additional Information about PSY101 Enrichment Activities (EAs)
There are two types of enrichment activities (EAs) available to PSY101 students to earn their EA credits. Continue reading the additional information below to learn more about the two types of EAs, in person vs online opportunities, and policies for students under 18.
Option 1: Psychological Research Studies
By participating in psychology research studies, you will directly experience some of the procedures used in psychological research while also making a valuable contribution to the generation of knowledge within the discipline. All studies have been reviewed and approved by the university’s Institutional Review Board (IRB), an administrative body established to protect the rights and welfare of human research participants.
At the beginning of a study session, you will be given a description of what you will have to do and then be asked to give your informed consent before participating. If you choose not to participate, you may leave the study without penalty.
Once you have completed a study, your credits should be posted to your SONA account within 24 hours. You can check to see that you have received credit by selecting My Schedule/Credits.
- Optional Prescreen: The prescreen is a short questionnaire available to students who are 18 years or older to determine eligibility to participate in select research studies. You are not required to complete the prescreen but doing so may increase the number of studies available to you throughout the semester. The prescreen will take approximately half an hour to complete and you will earn 0.5 credits if you choose to complete it.
- If you are 18 or older, you will be asked to complete the prescreen when you log in to SONA for the first time. If you wish to complete the prescreening at a later date, you can access it through the My Profile tab at the top of the SONA page.
Option 2: Psychological Research Techniques
By completing research techniques activities, you will engage in activities related to procedures researchers use in their psychological research. For example, you may engage in activities where you identify ethical violations in hypothetical or historical studies, or you may explore the impact of language when creating questions for a survey. In doing these activities, you will gain an understanding of the strengths and limits of various research methods used in psychological science. There are no age restrictions on Option 2 activities. You may complete each activity only once.
In Person vs Online
In person EAs are face-to-face activities/studies that take place at a set time and location. These are usually hosted in the Psychology Laboratories on the first floor of Au Sable Hall (ASH). Online EAs are completed through links available in SONA and may be completed any time before the activity’s deadline to receive credit. Please refer to your individual syllabus to see if you have any special requirements about completing in person EAs.
Both online and in person EAs are scheduled through the SONA Study Scheduling System. If the EA requires you to attend a session at a particular location, please arrive before the scheduled time, as EAs start punctually. If you arrive after the start time, you may be asked to reschedule through SONA. Additionally, if you sign up for a study but can no longer attend, please cancel your session through SONA.
Under 18?
If you are under 18, you are welcome to participate in EAs marked as Option 2: Psychological Research Techniques without restrictions. If you wish to participate in Option 1: Psychological Research Studies, you will need to have your parent/guardian complete a permission form and email it to the Lab Manager at [email protected]. Please note that even if you have a consent form on file, some studies require that you be at least 18 years old to participate. If you are under 18 and have a parental consent form on file, the SONA system will display only studies without an age requirement. To obtain the parent/guardian permission form, visit the SONA Help Page or email [email protected].
Do you have additional questions?
If you have other questions about EAs or SONA, please visit the SONA Help Page or contact the Psychology Lab Manager, Hannah Todd, by emailing [email protected] or calling (616)331-2427.