Expose yourself to psychology research being conducted at UNI

This is a requirement for all PSYC 1001 sections at UNI.

 

You may participate as a subject in actual  research being conducted at the university,  read and summarize a peer-reviewed  research article, attend a presentation of recent research findings and write a summary, or some combination of the three.   

You are expected to earn *TWO credits by the end of the semester.

 ** Not completing this requirement will result in witholding of your grade-- that is an incomplete which after one semester becomes a failing grade (an F on your transcript) if not completed **

 
   
  Option one : SONA  During a semester, a variety of experiments are conducted in the Department of Psychology by both faculty and students. These may include experiments in social, clinical, health, personality, industrial, cognitive, and biological psychology.  In any one semester only some of these areas will be represented. Experiments will generally begin to be available during the third or fourth week of school, with more available as the semester progresses. Participating in research is a good way to learn more about psychology and methodology while contributing directly to our knowledge of human behavior. Click on the "option one" link above for more information and to log onto the participant manager (I credit for one hour or any part of one hour). You should keep the informed consent given to you when you participate until the end of the semester, but you do not have to do anything to receive your credit.
  

The research carried out in the psychology department is important to UNI’s goal of involving students in hands-on and applied educational experiences, so please treat your participation seriously. All studies are reviewed and approved in advance by the Institutional Review Board at UNI. When you arrive at each study, that study will be explained to you by the researcher and you will have a chance to ask any questions you may have about participation. You will be asked to give your consent to participate.

You earn .5 research credit for studies that require 30 minutes or less, 1 credit for studies that require between 35 and 60 minutes, 2 credits for studies that require between 65-90 minutes, and 3 credits for studies that require 90-120 minutes. Unless otherwise indicated, you can participate only ONCE in a specific study.  At the end of the semster, your earned credit sum will be rounded to nearest whole number.

Overview of Signing up for Research Studies: The Psychology department uses a WEB-based sign-up system known as the SONA system. All experiments are listed on the Website located at: https://unipsych.sona-systems.com. All research credit earned through participation (Option 1) will be recorded on the website. Links to SONA are also on the Psychology Department Webpage (www.uni.edu/psych).

 
   



 
    Option two:  Read a pre-approved journal article and write a 2 page summary (1 credit for each summary). Complete and then ATTACH THIS COVER SHEET to the your summary.  DO NOT WORRY THAT THE STATISTICS DO NOT MAKE PERFECT SENSE, just try and understand broadly what was done and how the research (the careful systematic collection of data) led the authors to their conclusions. Read the "abstract" multiple times. Add a sentence about how it links to something you learned in class. You may submit one article summary per week. You must plan ahead to earn research credits in this manner. Summaries turned in after the last week of regular classes begins may not be graded until next semester: they are due before the last week of classes begins.  

 

Lesbian/Gay/Bisexuality issues and psychology: Preapproved article "Family Acceptance in Adolescence and the Health of LGBT Young Adults" by C. Ryan and others (2010)  http://familyproject.sfsu.edu/files/FAP_Family%20Acceptance_JCAPN.pdf

Music and Psychology: Preapproved journal article: "Individual music therapy for depression: randomised controlled trial." by J. Erkkila and otehrs (2011).

Research into notetaking strategy. Taking Class Notes by Hand Compared to Typing: Effects on Children’s Recall and Understanding (2021) by Horbury and Edmonds

Research Methodology: Straight forward experimental article shows how a peer reviewed article can be short and to the point. This is EFA vitamin supplements and behavior, "Influence of supplementary vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids on the antisocial behaviour of young adult prisoners. Randomised, placebo-controlled trial." When reading, note the importance of the "control group" for making cause and effect conclusions about the supplements.

Class Connections Psychoneuroendocrinology: This is the formal research write-up on the research by Cohen and colleagues featured in your text (p. 528) and talked about in class regarding exposure to cold virus and actually getting ill with the cold. Types of Psychological Stress and Susceptibility to the Common Cold | NEJM

 

 

 

    Option three: Attend a special research presentation held at UNI and write a 2-3 page summary (2 credits for each summary of a research talk). 

The presentation(s) must be pre-approved and this is not available every semester.   

 

OR - You may read a pre-approved research article from UNI and then , look up their office hours and interview a professor here at UNI about research they have published and write a 3 page summary for 2 credits.  

Effects of face expression of jurors, a psychology and law article.    Interview Kim MacLin

Effects of being excluded and language based exclusion research   Interview Robert Hitlan

Research on appropriate and inappropriate stimulant use among college students Interview Elizabeth Lefler

Research on stress and weight outcomes in college students  Interview Dilbur Arsiwalla

Stigmas among people with substance use problems  Interview Seth Brown

Someone else at UNI that published psych related peer reviewed journal article you are interested in? Ask me first if it will work.