CP lesson 1

Policy Change Overview

  • The instructor is reallocating a portion of the course grade from quizzes to participation in research.

  • Specifically, 5% of the quiz portion will be moved to a different domain (research participation).

  • This change means students will earn credit by participating in studies rather than purely from quiz performance.

  • The reallocation is quantified as: the grade impact is moved from quizzes to research participation, i.e. 0.050.05 of the grade is now tied to participation in research instead of being earned solely through quizzes.

Sona System Details

  • You may have heard of the Sona system in the psychology/research domain within the department.

  • The Sona system is used for psychological research participation management (recruiting participants, scheduling, and tracking participation).

  • In this course context, Sona will be the platform through which you participate in studies to earn the relocated 5% of your grade.

What Counts as Participation

  • Participation means completing a study hosted in the Sona system.

  • It is described as "doing a study" to fulfill the moved portion of your grade.

  • The studies you participate in are typically survey-based, i.e., usually survey-based studies.

Grading and Point Allocation

  • Policy: 5% of the quiz grade is reallocated to research participation.

  • Numeric representation: the reallocated portion is denoted as 0.050.05 of the grade.

  • Implication: students must complete the designated studies to receive credit equivalent to the moved percentage.

Study Types and Examples

  • Primary study type referenced: survey-based studies.

  • Expectation: most participation opportunities will involve completing surveys rather than experimental tasks.

  • Through Sona, you will view available studies, sign up, complete them, and receive credit for participation.

Logistics and How to Participate

  • Access to studies is managed through the Sona system.

  • Steps typically include: log in to Sona, browse available studies, sign up for a session, complete the study, and have participation verified/recorded.

  • Time commitment: participation will require allocating time to complete the study, as determined by each study’s design and duration.

Implications and Considerations

  • Practical implications: requires time planning to accommodate study participation alongside quizzes and other coursework.

  • Real-world relevance: integrates research experience into course assessment, potentially enhancing understanding of research methods.

  • Ethical considerations (general): participation in human subjects research involves informed consent, voluntary participation, and privacy protections as part of standard research practice.

  • Fairness and autonomy: students benefit from the opportunity to earn credit through research participation, while also needing to manage time and ensure that participation remains voluntary and non-coercive.

Potential Questions and Clarifications (from students)

  • How many studies must I complete to earn the full 0.050.05 credit, and how is it recorded in the gradebook?

  • What if I am unable to participate due to time constraints or access issues?

  • Are there alternative ways to earn the 5% if I choose not to participate in studies? (e.g., surveys, extra credit, etc.)

  • How will the surveys be selected to ensure alignment with course learning objectives?