How do I earn research credits?
You can earn research credits by participating in the studies conducted by the PSY-381X students. Credit is granted after the completion of each study. If you do not or cannot earn enough credits through study participation for any reason, you may also complete alternative assignments worth 2 credits each. Please note, researchers may close studies early, so regularly login to SONA for the best chance to earn all credits through research participation.
What do I do if I am under 18?
If you are under the age of 18, you are not eligible to participate in any studies. You will have to earn your credits by completing alternative assignments. The assignment details are listed in the "Alternative Assignments" tab. You may email the SRC if you have any questions at src@bw.edu. Even if you are under 18, you must still create a SONA account to receive credits.
When is the Spring 2026 participation deadline?
The last day to participate in a PSY-381X research study for credit is Wednesday, March 25th at 11:59pm. The last day to submit alternative assignments for credit is Friday, May 1st at 11:59pm.
When do studies usually appear on SONA Systems?
Typically, studies start being posted during the fourth or fifth week of the semester. Until the participation deadline of Wednesday, March 25, it is possible that new studies will continue being posted. It is important to check Sona Systems frequently for newly posted studies.
How do I sign up for a study?
After you've created an account, signing up for a study is easy. Go to the "Studies" link on the top of the SONA Systems home page for a list of posted, active studies. Here, you can choose studies and view timeslots for participation.
Can participants lose participation points?
Failure to attend any in-person study for which you sign up will result in a penalty of credits (30 minutes). This penalty means that you must complete additional 3 credits of participation to fulfill your PSY-100 course requirement. Not knowing the location of an experiment is not excusable and will result in the loss of participation points. If you are unable to attend an experiment, you must cancel your participation on Sona Systems at least 24 hours before the experiment. If you are unable to remove your name from the participant list, you should call the experimenter or Student Research Coordinator.
What should I do if I cannot make it to a study?
If you are unable to attend an in-person study you have signed up for, you must cancel your participation on Sona Systems at least 24 hours before your timeslot is scheduled. If you are unable to remove your name from the list, you should call the researcher or the Student Research Coordinator. Failure to give appropriate notice for not attending a study will result in a penalty of participation, requiring you to complete additional credits of participation.
How many credits do I need to earn?
Student enrolled in Principles of Psychological Science (PSY-100) are required to participate in in-person and online studies designed by the PSY-381X classes. This will aid PSY-100 students in understanding fundamentals of the research process and also assist student research students at Baldwin Wallace University. If a PSY-100 student chooses not to fulfill their participation requirements, they can complete an alternative assignment at the discretion of the PSY-100 professor. Each PSY-100 student must complete a minimum of 3 hours (18 credits) of participation. (1 credit = 10 minutes)
