Research Pool Information for Students

The Psychology Department runs a Psychology Research Pool. Earning research credits may be a requirement or extra credit opportunity for students for one of your Psychology or Business courses. This is an exciting opportunity for students to learn about the process of psychological research! Below is an overview of the options for earning research credits. Please note that any extra credit earned through the Psychology Research Pool will be added at the end of the semester. 

To get started, you will need a student account (or login to your existing Research Pool [Sona] account). If you do not yet have an account, you must request a student account. Please note that if you are enrolled in General Psychology, you will automatically have an account created for you after the add/drop deadline. Regardless of the option(s) you choose below to earn research credits, credit will be recorded in the Research Pool (thus you cannot earn credit without an account). If you have already created a Research Pool (Sona) account in a previous semester, you will be able to use the same account in subsequent semesters. Once you request an account, you should receive an email within 72 hours to set up your account. 

Please address all questions to the Research Pool Coordinator at kori.krueger@morgan.edu and NOT any course instructors. 

Request a student account here. 

Click here to login to the Research Pool (Sona).

Options to Earn Research Credits

Once you’ve got your account set up, there are two options to earn research credits. 

Option 1: Participate in Research Studies. This is the most common option. The research credit amount that you can earn varies as specified when you sign up for research studies. For example, a half hour long study will earn you .5 research credits and an hour long study will earn you 1 research credit. You must be 18 years or older to participate in research studies.

For in-person studies, be sure to arrive promptly at your specified timeslot. You may forfeit your participation if you arrive late. For online studies, be sure to prepare an uninterrupted period of time to complete the study. Credit should be granted within 72 hours of participation (for in-person studies) or the study’s due date (for online studies). Students can participate in research studies up until the Friday of the last week of undergraduate classes (before finals week). Students must assign any earned research credits to their eligible classes by the Friday of the last week of undergraduate classes (before finals week). Students will not receive course credit for their research credits if credits are not allocated by this deadline. If you are a graduating senior, you must inform the research pool coordinator. 

Please note that only research studies labeled “CREDIT” can be completed for research credits. 

Click here for student instructions for Participating in Research Studies. 

Option 2: Write Research Reports. This option requires submitting written work to earn research credits. Students should complete and submit the Research Report according to all of the requirements specified in the instructions below. Each Research Report is worth 1 research credit. 

Research reports are due by the Friday of the last week of undergraduate classes (before finals week). Students must assign any earned research credits to their eligible classes by the Friday of the last week of undergraduate classes (before finals week). Students will not receive course credit for their research credits if credits are not allocated by this deadline. If you are a graduating senior, you must inform the research pool coordinator. 

Click here for student instructions for Writing Research Reports.

Using the Research Pool as a Student Researcher

Students may also use the research pool to recruit participants for research studies. To do so, students should request a Researcher Account using the link below. Students may have a research account and a student account at the same time. Students will need to complete CITI training and attach their certificates when requesting a student account and should have sign-off from their supervisor or primary investigator of the research project. The supervisor or primary investigator will need to have a PI account in Sona for student researchers to use the research pool. 

Request a Researcher or PI account here. 

Click here for Researcher instructions for Running Research Studies.

FAQs

I forgot my research pool login info.
Login to the Research Pool (Sona) and click the “Forgot Password?” button in light gray on the right. Then follow the prompts to retrieve your password. 

I didn’t get credit for a study I completed on Sona.
Has it been less than 72 hours since an in-person study or an online study’s deadline? If so, sit tight. If it has been more than 72 hours, you may email the study’s “Principal Investigator.” You will find this information in the ‘Study Information” section on Sona to inquire about your credit. Please be respectful. 

I showed up for an in-person study and no one was there to greet me.
Please email BOTH the study’s “Principal Investigator” (this information can be found on the Study Information page) and the research pool coordinator (kori.krueger@morgan.edu) and you will receive further information about how to proceed. 

An online study crashed while I was completing it. 
Please email BOTH the study’s “Principal Investigator” (this information can be found on the Study Information page) and the research pool coordinator (kori.krueger@morgan.edu) and you will receive further information about how to proceed.

There are no available studies in the research pool. 
Keep checking back frequently! Studies are posted at varying times through the semester and the timeslots posted may fill up quickly 

Any other questions?
Be sure you have fully read the “Student Instructions for the Research Pool” document above. If you have remaining questions, please email kori.krueger@morgan.edu and include ‘Research Pool” in the subject line. Please do not email your instructor for questions regarding the research pool. For questions about an individual study, please contact the researcher listed in Sona.