Psychology is the science of behavior and the mind. One of the goals of your introductory psychology course is to expose you to the science of psychology. Therefore, one course requirement is to fulfill a six-hour research requirement. You will receive full credit if you complete the requirement but will lose one full letter grade if you do not complete the required credit hours. You may choose to participate in ongoing faculty and student research or you may choose to read and briefly summarize six psychology research articles. However you choose to complete the requirement, we hope that participation in the research program here at Penn State Behrend will be an enlightening and educational experience. You will learn about conducting scientific research and may provide valuable data for the faculty and students who conduct research. In addition, you may be assured that all research conducted at Penn State has been approved by the University Ethics Review Board.

Choice 1: Research Participation

WHERE: Research Pool Sona Systems

  • Note: The Research Participation Pool will be available to students after the first day of class.
  • HOW: DO NOT attempt to register; your professor already has you registered. You will receive an email in your PSU email account from the Research Participation Pool with your user ID and password. This email will be sent to you no later than the third week of school. Please add this email address to your list of safe senders: [email protected].
  • The email will look like this:

Your login information for Research Participation Pool is listed below.

User ID: ala495
Password: 586thgye

Please go to Sona Systems to log in to the system.

If you have any questions, please email [email protected].

Steps to retrieve password:

  • Click on the “Forgot password?” link.
  • Then, enter your PSU email id (without the @psu.edu).

If you are registered in the system, your password will now be sent to your PSU email account.

  • TO LOGIN: After accessing your PSU email account and receiving your password, return to the main Research Participation Pool site. Enter your PSU email id (without the @psu.edu). Then enter your Research Pool password. Make sure to change your password after you log in the first time.
  • AFTER LOGIN: Select an experiment by clicking on “Study Sign-Up” and sign up for the time that is convenient for you. Be sure to fill out all the requested information. If you are unsure how to log in, refer to the tutorial provided in class or the copy available from the research participation pool website.
  • READ your appointment reminders carefully! Some experiments may take place in different locations and/or times. You are held responsible if you arrive late or in the wrong location. Be responsible and show up for your appointments five minutes early. Remember that a student just like you is counting on your help for their project.
  • CANCELING: If you must cancel because of an emergency, you must cancel your appointment no less than two hours before your scheduled arrival. Cancel the experiment time from your research participation pool window and be sure to email the researchers to tell them of your situation. If necessary, call the Psych Lab at 814-898-6036 at least two hours before your scheduled appointment. Be sure to leave the following information on the machine:
    • Your name, class time/day, and professor
    • The name, time, and date of the experiment you are canceling
    • Your phone number
  • HOURS: For your compensation, you will be given at least ½ credit hour for each experiment in which you participate. If a particular experiment should take more than 35 minutes, you will receive 1 credit hour. If the experiment should take more than 65 minutes, you will receive 1.5 credit hours, etc.
  • AFTER THE EXPERIMENT: The experimenter will give you a credit receipt. It should have your instructor’s name, course number, course section, name and student ID number, date and time of the experiment, and the experimenter’s name. Always keep your receipts stored in a safe place in case there is a discrepancy between your records and ours.
  • WHAT IF THE RESEARCHER IS NOT THERE? Wait in the location of the experiment 15 minutes past the time for which you signed up. Then, on a piece of paper, write your name, class day and time, professor, date and time of the experiment, and the experimenter’s name. Give this paper to the Lab Attendant on duty in the Psychology Lab that same day. In addition, email [email protected] with the same information. You will receive ½ credit per hour in compensation for your time.

Choice 2: Research Summaries

If you choose not to participate in psychological research, you also may satisfy the requirement by reading an original psychological research article and completing a 300- to 500-word critique. The critique should include a summary and your evaluation of the article. In addition, the following requirements must be followed:

  • Choose an article that interests you in a peer-reviewed Psychology Journal, such as those found on PsychINFO, no more than two calendar years old. [You cannot use Psychology Today, Newsweek, the Behrend Psychology Journal, or other popular magazines]. Current Directions in Psychology is a good example and accessible to students. Each journal article is worth one credit hour.
  • Your critique should explain what the research was about, the results obtained, and your opinion of the research.
  • Format: The paper must be typed, double-spaced, and have 1-inch margins on all sides. You must also include a separate title page that includes your instructor’s name, section, time/day the class meets, your name, student id #, a complete reference to the article you read (article title, year, journal, and page #’s), and a photocopy or a screenshot of the first page of your journal article.
  • To submit a research summary, please upload the required documents in the designated space provided on Canvas in the BDPsychPool course. Before submitting, it is recommended that you compare your work to the example research summary (available on Canvas). You may email [email protected] with questions.
  • To receive credit for critiques, all requirements must be met, including: a minimum of 300 words, double-spaced, 1-inch margins, a separate title page, and, most importantly, a photocopy of the first page of the journal article. No credit will be issued for any reason if requirements are missing and/or not followed. It is the sole responsibility of the student to ensure all requirements are met upon submission.***

*** All critiques must be completed by Friday, May 2, 2025—no later than 5:00 p.m.

What happens if I do not complete six credit hours before the last day of regular class?

If you don’t complete six credit hours of research by Friday, May 2, 2025, at 5:00 p.m., your PSYCH 100 grade will be decreased by one full letter grade, i.e., A to B, or a percentage equivalent to one letter grade. Warning: Be aware that experiments are not always available during the last week of class. Complete your credits EARLY!

CREDIT POSTINGS: You can check your records with the credit reports from your Sona account under the completed section of the website after login. Also, completed credits will be posted each month in the lobby of the Psych Lab. The list will have your name, a list of credited experiments, and the total hours completed. If your records do not agree with the posting, contact [email protected].

CREDIT DISCREPANCIES: All credit discrepancies must be resolved before 5:00 p.m. on the Friday, May 2, 2025, deadline.

Note: A reminder to students, please remember to check your credit summaries on Sona regularly and email [email protected] with problems as soon as they are found. Please keep copies of all papers and emails exchanged relating to your research credits. Researchers, as well as participants, are required to keep accurate records for verification.

Questions, Comments, Concerns:

Please contact [email protected] with questions.

Psychology Lab Hours

The Psychology Laboratory will be open Mondays through Fridays from 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m.

Turnbull Hall is located across from Glenhill Farmhouse and adjacent to the Studio Theater. See the campus map.