McCombs Behavioral Research Laboratory. Instructions for Using Behavioral Lab

Transcription

1 McCmbs Behaviral Research Labratry Instructins fr Using Behaviral Lab August 2018

2 Table f Cntents i. Glssary f Terms. 3 ii. Researcher Study Applicatin a. Steps 4-5 b. Guidelines 5-6 c. Other Cnsideratins...6 d. Cancellatin Infrmatin.. 6 iii. Applicatin Apprval: Next Steps a. Study Sessin Frm b. Cnsent Frms c. Link and Sftware Testing d. Plicies fr Paid Studies iv. Sessin Prcedures a. Sessin Preparatin and Sign-In Sheets b. Check In c. URAs-During/After a Sessin d. Sessin Summary v. Participant Cancellatin and Absences Plicy vi. URA and Participant Safety P age

3 Glssary f Terms URA- Undergraduate Research Assistant Sessin- The time perid in which the lab staff runs ne r multiple studies. Depending n the study, a sessin can be as lng r as shrt as needed. Study Sessin Frm- This is a frm that researchers will fill ut prir t their study sessin which includes all the need t knw infrmatin fr lab staff t run a sessin effectively Instructins Sheet- In rder t avid repeat participatin in the same studies, participants can receive individualized Instructins Sheets with instructins f which studies t cmplete and nt cmplete in a sessin. URA Instructins Sheet- URAs receive a Instructins Sheet fr all study sessins, regardless f whether the study is cmputer-based r nt, prviding them with specific language t use and detailing sessin prcedures. Check-In Frm- Either a half-sheet f paper r electrnic survey given t participants at checkin. This tracks which participants used what cmputer fr security purpses, as well as their lab ID, and what type f cmpensatin they are receiving fr a sessin. 3 P age

4 Researcher Study Applicatin T use the facility and its data cllectin resurces, researchers must submit an Applicatin Frm. Researchers must fllw the applicatin prcedures belw. Steps Applicatins fr lab usage are handled nline at 1. Submit a cmpleted Applicatin Frm nline. Requests fr lab use will nly be cnsidered if they are cmpleted in full. If nt cmplete, the lab staff will return the request t the requester fr cmpletin. The Applicatin Frm will request the fllwing infrmatin: Desired date(s) f data cllectin Researchers invlved in study (if yu are a Phd student, include yur faculty advisr) Preferred rm Participant surce (recruiting wn participants, distributin list f ptential paid participants, curse participant pl, specialized sample) Target participant number Estimated hurs needed t cllect data Type f study (e.g., cmputer-based, paper and pencil survey, fcus grup, etc.) Indicatin if permissible fr study t be cmbined with anther study. (Please nte that if a researcher allws their study t be cmbined with anther study, it wuld allw the behaviral lab t maximize use f its participant pls. In additin, researchers may receive quicker access t data cllectin.) Prject-specific IRB apprval # Exemptin request t run wn studies: Researchers must still fill ut an Applicatin Frm s that lab staff is kept infrmed f all studies taking place in the lab. (The Sessin Study Frm is n lnger required.) Prvide a brief explanatin fr exemptin. This will help lab staff better understand the ways in which URAs can be further trained fr future utilizatin. If a researcher elects t run their study withut URA invlvement during nrmal lab hurs, they will have access t lab space but must recruit and manage their wn participants. Researchers will be respnsible fr the security f all equipment while running their studies and must return the facilities as they fund them. 2. Check t see yur study sessin scheduled as requested. Once applicatins are apprved, please duble check the Calendar t make sure yur applicatin was prcessed and apprved as requested. 3. Submit IRB Apprval Number. In rder t schedule time in the lab, it is highly recmmended that researchers submit their IRB number with their Applicatin Frm. Hwever, studies can be scheduled withut it. Applicatins are subject t cancellatin if 4 P age

5 IRB apprval has nt been received ne week prir t the cnduct f the study and will be autmatically cancelled if the prject has nt been apprved ne week befre the time f the scheduled study sessin(s). Exemptin t this rule will be handled n a case by case basis. Guidelines 1. The lab space must be used fr academic research prjects. 2. At least ne principal investigatr must be a McCmbs Schl faculty member. Ph.D. students are welcme and encuraged t use the Behaviral Research Labratry. Hwever, their applicatins must be made jintly with a McCmbs Schl faculty member. 3. Applicatin Frms are apprved n a first-cme, first-served basis. 4. Sessins can be scheduled Mndays frm 12-5PM and Tuesday-Friday frm 8-5PM. Mnday mrnings will be used t prepare fr that week s sessins. URAs will als be trained fr the studies they will be facilitating n Mnday mrnings. In additin, researchers can schedule time t test sftware r pilt prcedures fr their studies n Mnday mrnings frm 8-12PM. Researchers can cntact the lab crdinatr, if interested in testing n Mndays. 5. Each researcher is alltted a maximum f 20 hurs per week AND a maximum f 40 hurs a mnth. Every c-authr invlved in a study will have hurs deducted frm their alltment, with the exceptin f faculty supervisrs. Pilting time used n Mndays will nt cunt twards the weekly r mnthly alltment. 6. If a researcher wuld like t use the lab utside f the nrmal hurs f peratin, they are permitted t d s. The researcher shuld be aware f the fllwing. a. Lab staff will nt be available t assist with these studies. b. These hurs will nt be deducted frm a researcher s weekly r mnthly alltment f hur. c. Researchers must still fill ut an Applicatin Frm s that lab staff is kept infrmed f all studies taking place in the lab. The Sessin Study Frm is n lnger required. d. Researchers shuld nte that lab staff may be running studies up until 5PM n the day f their study. If that is the case, researchers shuld schedule their time in the lab s as t allw themselves sufficient time t set up their study rm and materials. e. Researchers will be respnsible fr the security f all equipment while running their studies and must return the facilities as they fund them. f. Because lab staff may nt be there t pen r clse the lab, researchers need t be granted security access (i.e., a key and access cde) t the lab. Researchers shuld cntact Mark Wimby at least tw weeks in advance f their study t be granted lab access. 7. Applicatin Frms may be submitted up t tw mnths in advance, but n later than 14 days prir t the prpsed week. 5 P age

6 8. If the requested time perid fr lab usage extends beynd tw mnths past the date f the submissin f the Applicatin Frm, that request will be hnred nly if the requested dates are fr a single experiment t be run n cnsecutive business days. 9. IRB cdes used must be prject-specific. Other Cnsideratins 1. If a researcher requests the lab fr a certain number f hurs and the behaviral lab can cllect their target number f participants in less time, researchers will be advised t lessen their hurs in their applicatin t free up space fr ther researchers and t prtect the researcher s mnthly alltment f hurs. 2. The behaviral lab staff will be in charge f determining capacity fr a requested week and als fr reserving the rm and times f an applicatin's data cllectin sessin(s). 3. Cnflicts in multiple researchers requesting the Behaviral Research Labratry at the same time are reslved n a first-cme, first-served basis. Cancellatin Infrmatin T cancel use f the lab after an Applicatin Frm has been apprved, please send an t: larissa.garcia@mccmbs.utexas.edu. Please give a tw week ntice t cancel any apprved Applicatin Frm. Applicatin Apprval: Next Steps Study Sessin Frm After receiving applicatin apprval, researchers will receive a Study Sessin Frm t cmplete. This frm shuld be filled ut the week befre the scheduled sessin day. Belw are the deadlines fr the crrespnding studies. If recruiting wn participants r using curse credit participant pl: Researchers are respnsible fr ing their Study Sessin Frm t the lab crdinatr n later than Mnday at 12PM f the week preceding their scheduled week. If using the Distributin List f Ptential Paid Participants: Researchers need t their Study Sessin Frm n later than Mnday at 12PM, 1 week prir t their scheduled week. If a requesting a specialized sample: Researchers must submit their Study Sessin Frm 2 mnths prir t their requested week. Please nte that requests fr specialized samples are nt guaranteed t be fulfilled. Lab staff will keep researchers updated n recruitment prgress, including any challenges r barriers t recruitment. These deadlines exists fr several reasns. Lab staff need time t test any sftware r survey links Lab staff need time t prepare the schedule fr the upcming week and t recruit participants 6 P age

7 The lab crdinatr needs time t meet with URAs t review instructins fr facilitating studies fr upcming sessins The researcher must their Study Sessin Frm t the lab crdinatr, which will include the fllwing infrmatin: Descriptin f the study Directins t access sftware r cmputer prgram, if applicable Link t survey, if applicable The estimated time it takes t run the study Des the study require any special equipment (besides a cmputer) r materials, such as headphnes r paper materials? Des the study require any specific language, besides general instructins? The research questin. Des the lab crdinatr need t be aware f any carry ver effects? If the study can be cmbined with ther studies r nt. Please nte the fllwing regarding participant pl use: Studies using the Distributin List f Ptential Paid Participants can be run alne r cmbined with ther paid studies if requested and if ther paid studies are available Studies utilizing the curse credit participant pl generally shuld be cmbined fr researchers running in the same week Studies that use specialized samples wuld likely be run alne IRB apprval number (must match number used n Applicatin Frm). Researchers must als indicate if this study is related t any ther prir IRB number. As described in the "Link and Sftware Testing" sectin belw, the lab crdinatr will be thrughly screening the cntent f study links. This will help t prevent duplicate participatin in a single study but will als help ensure that IRB numbers match the submitted prject. This prcess will help all users f the lab adhere t the prject-specific IRB plicy. If a researcher is nt using a cmputerized survey t cllect data, they need t meet with the lab crdinatr t explain their prject in mre detail and review specialized sftware and setup, in additin t submitting a Study Sessin Frm. Als, if a survey requires additinal materials (e.g., paper materials, stimuli, etc.) r a specific set up, it is recmmended that the lab crdinatr and researcher meet prir t the data cllectin sessin. Researchers must meet at least a week in advance f their scheduled week if they need t discuss their study with the lab crdinatr. The mre time the researcher gives the lab staff t prepare fr a study, the better. Cnsent Frm If running a cmputer-based prgram, it is recmmended that researchers used electrnic cnsent frms linked befre their survey. If a researcher needs r chses t use a paper cnsent frm, they must it t the lab crdinatr in advance, alng with their Study Sessin Frm. In additin, researchers shuld supply lab staff with the apprpriate number f hard cpies f their cnsent frm at least ne week in advance f their sessin(s). 7 P age

8 Link and Sftware Testing Prir t running a sessin, all survey links and sftware prgrams will be tested. The lab crdinatr r a URA will test the link r prgram and take ntes t prvide feedback t the experimenter, as well as nte any nuances fr the URAs that will be running the sessin. The fllwing will be bserved: Even thugh researchers shuld give an estimated time fr the studies, are there any pints in a study that may cause a delay r cause participants t mve at varying speeds? Des the study require headphnes? Is there a paper prtin t the study? Is there any srt f deceptin, manipulatin, r ptential carryver effects (if s, will it affect the rder in which the study is run)? Typs r unclear questins If running a cmputer-based study, d yu ask participants t recrd their lab IDs? We ask every study t recrd this. Plicies fr Paid Studies The Distributin List f Ptential Paid Participants (limited t UT Austin students) is t be used acrss departments fr researchers utilizing URAs. Students interested in vluntarily participating in paid studies are recruited t sign up fr this distributin list that will be ed nce a week with upcming studies. If participants are interested in a study, they will be directed t sign up fr a specific time slt ahead f time n Qualtrics. Participants frm the Distributin List f Ptential Paid Participants will either be paid a fixed rate r paid based n their decisins and/r the decisins f thers in the study. The standard cmpensatin amunt fr paid participants has been $8 with the added pprtunity t win a randm drawing f $50 within each study. In all cases, participants will be given advanced ntice f their expected payment befre they sign up fr a study. Researchers using the distributin list need t prvide the lab crdinatr with funds n later than 2 days prir t their sessin(s) alng with their Individual Receipt Frm. The lab crdinatr will keep all funds in a safe lcated in ne f the lab rms that has an alarm. The funds must be clearly marked with the researcher's name and the amunt given t the lab crdinatr. The lab crdinatr will then cunt the mney in the presence f the researcher and place the mney in the safe. The lab crdinatr will be the nly persn handling mney in the lab (i.e., URAs will nt handle mney). Fr studies that chse t be cmbined, the payment f participants will be split evenly amng every researcher in a given sessin. If a researcher chses t recruit their wn participants, these plicies d nt apply. 8 P age

9 Sessin Prcedures Sessin Preparatin and Sign-in Sheets The lab crdinatr is respnsible fr preparing all details fr an upcming sessin ne week prir t the start date. URAs are respnsible fr preparing the lab at the beginning and end f a sessin, in additin t mnitring participants while sessins are in prgress. URAs will take the fllwing steps prir t facilitating a sessin: Arrive 30 minutes prir t assigned sessin, as instructed by the lab crdinatr. Receive URA Instructins Sheet, which cntains instructins fr the sessin Retrieve sign in sheet and prep check in Print sign in sheet frm Sna System UN: admin Passwrd: adpass URAs and the lab crdinatr will be the nly individuals t have access t this passwrd infrmatin. - Crss-check Sna Systems t ensure n duplicate data - Highlight any participants wh have already participated in ne r mre studies in the sessin (but nt all) t ensure they receive the prper Instructins Sheet upn check-in - Prepare Check-In Frm (if nt included nline) If a study requires it, assign cubicles t certain participants ahead f time List day and time f sessin n each Check-In Frm Turn n all cmputers and lgin in Participant cmputers Username:.\resuser Passwrd: #1Blab2013 URAs, the lab crdinatr, and Cmputer User Services Specialist will be the nly individuals t have access t this passwrd infrmatin. If running a cmputer-based study, g int Z drive and pen electrnic versin f the Instructins Sheet fr that sessin n every cmputer, which cntains instructins fr the participant, including the rder in which the studies shuld be cmpleted(if mre than ne). If participants d nt need any specialized instructins, they will fllw the instructins n the electrnic Instructins Sheet. If a participant has already cmpleted ne r mre studies in a sessin, they will receive a specialized Instructins Sheet upn check-in and will be instructed t fllw that Instructins Sheet and nt the electrnic versin If running a study that uses a cmputer prgram, g int Z drive and pen prgram n every cmputer. Prepare prgram fr use, as instructed. If a study is using Qualtrics, n further steps beynd the pening f the electrnic Instructins Sheet is necessary Refer t URA Instructins Sheet r check in with lab crdinatr t make sure everything is set up as needed (e.g., headphnes, paper materials, mney, etc.) Review instructins fr running sessin n the URA Instructins Sheet, paying attentin t any specific instructins 9 P age

10 Check In Fr participants receiving class credit r payment fr their participatin, URAs will refer t a sheet printed frm Sna Systems t check in each participant, which will include the participant s name and lab ID. URAs shuld check t make sure that the participant is eligible t participate in the study (e.g., they have nt participated in the same study befre) 15 minutes befre study, URA will check participants in and verify that they are participating in the study that they signed up fr n Sna Systems URAs shuld make sure every participant has a Check-In Frm and a pencil/pen URAs shuld indicate n the participant s Check-In Frm whether a participant is receiving credit r payment. URAs shuld recrd a participant s lab ID n their Check-In Frm befre giving it t them URAs shuld make sure that any highlighted participants receive the crrect Instructins Sheet upn check-in. If a participant is being paid, they shuld als receive additinal frms t fill ut If a study requires assigned cubicles, URAs shuld pint ut t participants their assigned cmputer, which shuld already be recrded n their Check-In Frm If tw r mre different studies are being run at the same time, the back entrances t the Large Cnference Rm (CBA 6.402) and the Wrkstatin Rm (6.499) can be used t enter, t minimize traffic. URAs- During/After a Sessin At the start f a sessin, a URA will g ut int the hall where participants are waiting fr annuncements and direct participants int the study rm. Befre entering the study rm, each participant will hand their cnsent frm t the URA at the dr f the study rm, if using a paper cnsent frm. Any participant wh did nt receive a Check-In Frm r ther financial frm (if needed) will receive this at the dr f the study rm. URAs' rles will vary accrding t the study they are facilitating but the fllwing are what URAs shuld be ding fr mst studies in the lab. After all participants are in the rm, URAs shuld briefly check the hallway fr any late participants befre giving annuncements. After checking the hallway, URAs shuld give annuncements at the beginning f the study including instructins and an pprtunity fr anybdy t ask questins. Annuncements include the fllwing: Ask participants t write their cmputer number n the Check-In Frm they were given (if nt assigned cubicles). Let them knw that their participatin will remain annymus. The sheet f paper will nly be used t make sure participant receives credit r payment. N fd r drink is allwed in the lab. If they have fd r drink, please instruct the participant t place it in a backpack r leave it at the table when they first enter. All cell phnes need t be silenced r ff during the duratin f the study and placed in a backpack r pcket. Cellphnes shuld nt be visible during the 10 P age

11 sessin. If a participant cannt place their phne away, they can raise their hands and a URA will cllect their phne. If running multiple studies in ne sessin, let them knw there is ne credit given fr the entire sessin, nt per study. Ask all participants t pay attentin, as there are attentin checks thrughut the study. At the end f the sessin, participants shuld hand their Check-In Frm t a URA fr review. If receiving payment, the lab crdinatr will pay participants. Participants are then dismissed. 5 minutes after the study begins, the dr shuld be clsed t the study rm. Any participants wh arrive after the dr has been clsed shuld nt be allwed t participate in the study. Peridically (I.e., 2-3 times thrughut a ne-hur sessin) walk arund and bserve the activity in the rm and n the cmputers (if applicable). URAs shuld lk t see if participants are engaging with their tasks, nt brwsing unauthrized websites, r lking at their phne. Watch fr hand-raising and answer any questins participants may have abut a study withut giving infrmatin that might cntaminate data If URAs ntice unusual behavir frm a participant, they will make a nte f the cmputer f the participant in questin during the sessin. This infrmatin will be ed t the researcher at the end f the day. After a sessin Push in all chairs If a paid study, URAs shuld cllect Individual Receipt Frm frm desks Organize desks s they are ready fr the next sessin Clean up any mess left behind Prepare cmputers fr next sessin if running immediately afterwards At the end f their shift, URAs need t researchers an update abut that day's sessin(s) ( mre in Sessin Summary sectin) Sessin Summary At the end f a sessin(s), URAs are respnsible fr ing each researcher (and cc'ing the lab crdinatr) with a summary f their sessin(s). This summary includes hw many participants they ran that day and any URA cmments. If a study is running n mre than ne day, the summary will als include the ttal number f participants fr the study verall. URA cmments include any f the fllwing infrmatin. If a participant did nt cmplete a study and why If a participant brke the lab rule regarding n cell phnes If an errr ccurred during a study If a participant displayed any utstanding behavir, such as finishing a study t quickly, nt demnstrating cmputer skills, nt understanding the task, etc. If a disruptin ccurred in the middle f the study, such as a fire alarm 11 P age

12 Ex. f Sessin Summary Hell, The fllwing is an update abut the data cllectin carried ut fr yur study tday in the behaviral research lab. In tday s sessin(s), we had a ttal f participants, adding t a ttal number f [the part after the cmma can be excluded if the study nly ran ne day]. We had n utstanding cmments fr yur sessin(s) OR Belw are a list f cmments fr yur sessin(s). If yu have any questins r cncerns regarding a sessin, please let us knw as sn as pssible s that we can prperly address it. Thanks, Undergraduate Research Assistant If a technical issue arse with the hardware, URAs will als ntify Mark Wimby as sn as pssible and will prvide him with a detailed summary f what ccurred. Participant Cancellatins and Absences Plicy Participants must cancel nline within 24 hurs f their study if they are unable t attend a sessin they are signed up fr. If participants d nt shw up fr a sessin fr which they are signed up and d nt cntact the lab crdinatr ahead f time, it will result in an absence. In additin, if a participant is mre than 5 minutes late, they will nt be allwed t participate, resulting in an absence. Three absences will result in a participant being barred frm further participatin in behaviral lab studies fr the remainder f a schl year. URA and Participant Safety The safety f bth the URAs and participants are f the highest pririty when running studies in the lab. All URAs are required t have their phnes (silenced) n them and have internet and phne cnnectivity. There are als phnes in the Wrkstatin Rm and the Small Cnference Rm. If at any time a URA r participant des nt feel safe, URAs shuld cntact the lab crdinatr t assess the situatin. In case f an emergency, the URA shuld cntact P age