Course Requirement
The research participation portion of the course is worth 10% of your course grade. Each student has the opportunity to acquire a maximum of 10% by attending research participation appointments. Each one hour (or one credit) appointment is worth 2%, and each 2 hour (or two credit) appointment is worth 4%. 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".
Consent
All research participation is carefully screened by a Human Ethics Review Committee. Careful steps are taken to insure that you will not be exposed to the risk of physical or psychological harm. While all research must be approved by the ethics committee, you have the right to withdraw your consent to participate in a research project. That is, you have the right to hear 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 consent to participate and still receive 2% by completing an alternate exercise that the researcher will provide for you at that time. This may involve reading a description of the study or other pertinent information related to the research 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. The student must stay for the entire time of the original study.
Confidentiality
All data collected in research projects will be maintained in strict confidence. In most cases, names are not recorded with the data. In other cases, names will be removed from the data after completion of the study. In all cases, access to the data is strictly limited to the researcher and those persons who analyze the data. You have a right to ask questions and get more information if you are interested in a project. You may also request that you be sent a summary of the findings of a project in which you participate. Please feel free to exercise these rights.
Being on Time
Research projects typically start at the exact time posted. As with any other appointment, it is a good idea to be a minimum of five minutes early. Students who do not show up on time to participate, or who do not show up at all will lose 2% of the possible 10% that students can acquire. 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 of time. If the researcher says that there is no further admittance to the study, then the researcher’s decision is final. Students must not rely on the email reminders sent out by the automated system. This is only a courtesy email. To assist you in being on time, be sure to go to your appointment location a day or two early to find the room.
Cancellations
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 or if you need to cancel your appointment the same day of the appointment (due to illness or a very urgent matter), call 780-492-5689 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.
Unexcused Absences – Missed Appointments
Research projects typically start at the exact time posted. As with any other appointment, it is a good idea to be a minimum of five minutes early. 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 and arriving 5 minutes early. 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%.
Discrepancies in Credits
Students are responsible for reporting research credit discrepancies immediately to the research coordinator at . Be sure to include your student ID# in your email. The deadline to report discrepancies is within 3 days after your final exam. If you have not done so by that time, your record will not be changed. Go to your "Check Credit Status" area online to view your research participation information.
Problem Resolution
If you require assistance, first check the FAQ area. All other questions or problems regarding research participation should be directed to the research participation coordinator at or Dept of Psychology, BS-P217B, Biological Sciences Bldg, or 780-492-5689 from 9:00am to 12:00pm and 1:00pm to 4:00pm. Emails from students to the coordinator must come from your university email address. Put your student ID number and “Research Participation” in the subject line of the email.
Final Comments
Please note that this is an educational experience for you. Do not treat it lightly. In order to maximally benefit from your participation, you should gain some information about the purpose and procedures used in the research. The researcher will normally provide you with this information after you finish your participation. In a few cases, it will not be possible to provide this information until near the end of the term. You may request a summary of the findings of projects in which you participate. Please do not be shy about asking the researchers questions.