1. How do I obtain full credit for research participation?
Research participation is worth 10% of your course grade. Each student has the opportunity to acquire a maximum of 10% by attending research appointments. Each one hour (or one credit) appointment is worth 2%, and each two hour (or two credit) appointment is worth 4%. Students are encouraged to obtain the full 10% towards your course grade.
2. How is my grade affected if I do not take part in research participation?
Students must obtain at least one research credit during the term. If one research credit is not obtained, students will have a "1" show up on their transcript indicating "missed course work". If students choose to not take part in any research projects, then they do not acquire any portion of the 10% available from the research participation component.
3. How do I sign-up for the research projects?
Signup procedures are located in the research participation signup procedures web page and in the instruction material posted on your course web site and in the student handout sheet.
4. How many projects can I sign up for at one time?
The online system will only allow students to sign up for their first 3 research credits (6%) at the beginning of the term. The remaining 2 research credits (remaining 4%) will be available at approximately half way through the term. A notice will be posted on the Announcement and Signup page in the credit signup system. The Announcement and Signup page is the page that has the "Sign Me Up" box.
5. How much time does each project take?
Be sure that you can attend for one hour for each 1 credit appointment and two hours for each 2 credit appointment. Do not sign up for the project if you cannot attend the full one or two hour session.
6. How can I check my appointment information?
By going to "Check Credit Status" you will see all your appointments listed. Under "Project ID" you will find a link. Click on the link for the project you are looking up. This will bring you to the following information for that project: project ID, project name, credit value, date, time and location of appointment, restrictions and extra information. Extra information will be where directions may be found if supplied by the researcher or the research assistant.
7. What if there are no projects available?
At times there may not be appointments available. Please keep checking. The researchers post their research appointments at various times throughout the day and at different times throughout the term. Keep checking regularly to see if any new projects have been posted. If you need to find research appointments, it is highly recommended that students check the online system daily between 9am and 5pm. Do not leave your participation until the last week, as projects will be limited.
8. When is the last day to participate in research projects?
The last day of the term is the deadline for participating in research projects. Do not leave your participation until the last week as the availability of projects will be limited.
9. What happens if I am late or miss my research appointment?
Research projects typically start at the exact time posted. Students who do not show up on time to participate, or who do not show up at all will lose 2%. The only reasons for an absence that will be considered are incapacitating medical illness(ie. long term hospitalization), severe domestic affliction, or other compelling reason. For these reasons, students must contact the Research Participation Coordinator ( ) within two working days following the missed research appointment or as soon as the student is able having regard to the circumstances underlying the absence. Difficulty in finding a room or traffic issues are not acceptable reasons for being late or absent. Plan on locating the room a day ahead. If the researcher says that there is no further admittance to the study, then the researcher’s decision is final. The research participation program is a required academic exercise, and all communication regarding it is governed by the University of Alberta’s Code of Student Behaviour.
NEW POLICY/PROCEDURE re: Unexcused Absences: Students will be given the opportunity to make up ONE unexcused absence. This is to accommodate for ONE absence/unforeseen event - we do not recommend that you miss an appointment deliberately, but utilize this new feature only if necessary. Students with ONE unexcused absence will still have the ability to receive 10% for research participation. Your unexcused absence will remain listed in your credit status area, but the online system will automatically accommodate for ONE unexcused absence allowing you the opportunity to achieve 10%.
Note: For more information please go to question #28 in the FAQ.
10. How do I cancel a research appointment?
Students are responsible for canceling appointments they are unable to attend. Cancellations are made online up to midnight the day before your appointment and if you need to cancel your appointment the same day of the appointment (due to any type of illness or an urgent matter), call the coordinator at 492-5689 before the appointment. Be sure to leave a clear, slow message with your project cancellation information if the coordinator is not available. This message will be date and time stamped. Even if you are ill, it is your responsibility to call in prior to the appointment.
11. How do I know my appointment signup or cancellation was successful?
Students are responsible for checking their credit status. Go to "Check Credit Status" as your last action each time you are online, just before you close your browser. This will show if your research appointment sign up or appointment cancellation went through, or if you accidentally signed up for a project. Students must be signed up online in order to take part in the project. If you attend a project that you are not signed up for, you will not receive credit for that project.12. Does the online system confirm that I attended my appointment?
Nothing changes in your "Credit Status" after attending an appointment. What you see there is what you will receive as long as you attend your projects that are not yet completed.
13. What happens if the researcher doesn't show up for my appointment?
If you are on time and the researcher isn't there, wait ten minutes after the project start time. If no one shows up, immediately email the research participation coordinator giving project details and information related to the absence of the researcher so that you may be assigned credit(s).
Mass testing is an on-line survey available to all students at the beginning of Fall and Winter terms. Mass testing dates are different for each course section and will be announced in your class on the day of your research participation orientation, and also posted on the Announcement and Signup page in the credit signup system. Participation in mass testing is worth one credit, or 2% of your research participation mark. Click here for more details on mass testing. By participating in the mass testing survey, you may become eligible to participate in more research studies throughout the term, depending on how you answered the mass testing questions.
15. What if I choose not to participate in mass testing?
Participation in mass testing is voluntary and you will not be penalized if you choose not to participate. In choosing to participate in mass testing, you may become eligible to participate in more research studies throughout the term, which gives you more flexibility in fulfilling the research participation requirement.
16. When are mass testing credits entered into the online system?
Once all the class sections have completed the online mass testing survey, the mass testing research credits will be placed into the system at the beginning of the next month, usually at the end of the first “full” week. Students will be able to see their mass testing research credit in the "Check Credit Status" area.
17. Can I participate in the same project twice?
No, students may not sign up for the same project more than once, even across terms. The online system will display your past appointments since Winter 2003. To see projects from prior terms, go here. Note: Mass testing can be done by students each term that it is offered, as it is different each term.
18. What if I feel uncomfortable participating in a research project?
You have the right to withdraw your consent to participate in any research project. Listen to what the researcher expects you to do and then agree or disagree to participate. If you need more information, you should always ask for it. Even after you start to participate in a research project you may withdraw further consent to participate and still receive credit by completing an alternate exercise that the researcher will provide at that time. This may involve reading a description of the study or other pertinent information related to it. Or it may involve taking part in the study without your data being part of the study This will not take longer than the scheduled study but you must stay for the entire time of the original study. Alternate assignments are graded on a pass/fail basis and must be completed to the satisfaction of the researcher to receive credit. If your assignment is not satisfactorily completed, you will not be awarded the research credit for that project.
19. How long do I have to report any discrepancies in my credits?
The final deadline for any changes regarding your research participation credits is within three days after your final exam. If you have not reported discrepancies or contacted the research participation coordinator, your record will not be changed. Be sure to go to the “Check Credit Status” area throughout the term to view credits listed.
20. Do projects run late in the day or on weekends?
Most projects are run during the day, but there are some that will run later in the day (4:00pm, 4:30pm or 5:00pm) and a few on Saturdays.
21. I am taking Psyco 104 over. Can I use my past credits?
Policy is that students cannot apply past term research credits to the current term.
22. Why does my friend have more projects to choose from?
Mass testing allows researchers to identify students with certain psychological characteristics and then make those students eligible to participate in research projects that are concerned with those characteristics. Depending on how you answered certain questions, you may have more projects to choose from.
23. Why did I not receive an email reminder for my appointment?
Email reminders are only sent out if you signed up for an appointment two or more days before the actual appointment date. Students should not depend on the email reminders, but keep track of their own research appointments as this is only a courtesy email.
24. Where can I check my U of A email?
Students are responsible for checking their U of A email.. Emails from students sent to the research participation coordinator must come from your U of A email account. When emailing always include your student ID number.
25. Where do I get my user name and password?
Your CCID and password can be found on the right top corner of your original timetable. Assistance with CCID’s and passwords is available from Academic Information and Communication Technologies (AICT) located in Room 302, General Services Building, or call the Help Desk at 492-9400. AICT will issue passwords in person only and requires that you present picture ID.
26. How do I find the building on campus where my project will be held?
There is a campus map at: http://www.campusmap.ualberta.ca/
27. Is there such a thing as an "alternate exercise"?
The alternate assignment is available to students in the event that they choose to not take part in the research project that they have signed up for and are currently attending, once the research project is described. Even after you start to participate in a research project you may withdraw further consent to participate and still receive credit by completing an alternate exercise that the researcher will provide at that time. This may involve reading a description of the study or other pertinent information related to it. Or it may involve taking part in the study without your data being part of the study. This will not take longer than the scheduled study but you must stay for the entire time of the original study. Alternate assignments are graded on a pass/fail basis and must be completed to the satisfaction of the researcher to receive credit. If your assignment is not satisfactorily completed, you will not be awarded the research credit for that project.
28. I heard that there is a new policy/procedure regarding my first unexcused absence. Is that correct?
Yes, that is correct. The new information is:
NEW POLICY/PROCEDURE re: Unexcused Absences: Students will be given the opportunity to make up ONE unexcused absence. This is to accommodate for ONE absence/unforeseen event - we do not recommend that you miss an appointment deliberately, but utilize this new feature only if necessary. Students with ONE unexcused absence will still have the ability to receive 10% for research participation. Your unexcused absence will remain listed in your credit status area, but the online system will automatically accommodate for ONE unexcused absence allowing you the opportunity to achieve 10%.
As mentioned above, "we do not recommend that you miss an appointment deliberately, but utilize this new feature only if necessary". This would be for any unforeseen event that may come up that would make you late for an appointment and not be able to cancel prior. Also, do remember that students may cancel same day appointments "prior" to an appointment for an urgent matter by calling 780-492-5689. As per the student handout sheet:
Students are responsible for canceling appointments they are unable to attend. Cancellations can be made through the signup system up to midnight the day before your appointment and if you need to cancel your appointment the same day of the appointment (due to any type of illness or an urgent matter), call 780-492-5689 before the appointment. Be sure to leave a message if the coordinator is not available. This message will be date and time stamped. Even if you are ill, it is your responsibility to call in prior to the appointment.
29. How do I contact the research participation coordinator?
Sharon Randon
Research Participation Coordinator
Department of Psychology
P217 Biological Sciences Building
Telephone: 492-5689
Hours: Monday to Friday 9:00 to 12:00 and 1:00 to 4:00
E-mail:
Note: Be sure to include your student ID number with each email.