Human Subjects Pool Guidelines

Behavioral Science Department, Pacific Union College  

The Human Subjects Pool is comprised of students enrolled in General Psychology, Introduction to Sociology, Cultural Anthropology and Human Development. At the discretion of course instructors, students from other Behavioral Science Department courses may be included in the pool on a quarterly basis.

 The Pool is available to Behavioral Science Department Faculty and to majors working in collaboration with Department Faculty, and to other researchers approved by the Department. Either a copy of the IRB approval notification, or written explanation of why IRB approval is not needed, must be submitted to the Pool Coordinator prior to accessing the Pool. {The Pool Coordinator is the Department Chair}.

Students enrolled in one of the Pool courses are required to fulfill a research component. Each course instructor will determine the number of course points allocated to this component. The research requirement is fulfilled by any combination of approved activities adding up to two credits. Activities fulfilling the research component will be identified by each course instructor, but may include the following:

• Participation in one hour of research as a member of the Human Subjects Pool (1 credit)
• Reading 5 to 10 pages of a published empirical research article in a peer-reviewed scientific or professional journal and completing a research report - 1 typed page. See further guidelines for this in each course syllabus (1 credit).
• Viewing a one to two hour course related videotape, and writing a one to two page typed summary and reaction paper. See further guidelines for this in each course syllabus (1 credit).

Benefits of the Human Subjects Pool
Participation in experiments provides students with direct experience with research methods. The debriefing that follows participation provides students with information about behavioral science research findings that will often go beyond what is presented in class.  Participation also facilitates the advanced research experience of upper division majors.

Student Responsibilities

The responsibilities of students in the Subject Pool include the following:

• Sign-up for experiments posted on the Bulleting Board outside the Behavioral Science Department. Experiments will be announced in class and or posted on the course Blackboard when they are available for sign-up.
• Show up for the experiment on time. If you are unable keep your obligation, leave a message at the Department phone number (6537) leaving your name and student number, and the date and time of the experiment you were supposed to attend. Students who sign-up for an experiment and fail to show up on-time will be penalized half of the points allocated to the research component in their course.
• Complete the research tasks seriously and honestly. Students who are disruptive during experiments, or who do not appear to be taking the tasks seriously (e.g. fill in the blanks of a questionnaire randomly in order to leave early) will not be given credit.
• Complete a research feedback form on what was learned from the participation.

Student Rights

Students have a right to the following:

• Withdraw from research participation at any time without penalty (as long as adequate notice is given, as specified above). Students who terminate their participation will be given the opportunity to participate in alternative experiments, or given alternative means of fulfilling their research requirement
• Have all of their research data treated with strict confidentiality. Identifying information (such as student numbers) will only be used to allocate participation credit, and will not be used to link experimental data with any student name.
• Information about the nature of the experiment they will be participating in, and any harm that might reasonably be anticipated to result from participation, prior to giving consent to participate. Some experiments may require the use of deception, but deception will only be used when justified by the nature and benefits of the experiment, and even then risks of any harm will be disclosed, and full disclosure made as soon as possible after the conclusion of the experiment. Information about the experiment should be included on the sign-up sheet, and again at the beginning of the experiment.
• Be debriefed about the purpose of the experiment, and what the researchers hoped to find. Students should also be given an opportunity to ask any questions or express any concerns they may have about their participation.
• Be treated with respect for their identity and dignity at all times by the experimenters. Any student with any concern about how they were treated during any phase of the experiment should immediately inform their course instructor and the Pool coordinator  (#6536, afulton@puc.edu)