For Instructors: Offering Study Credits

Currently, Spring Semester 2025, our Behavioral Insights Lab subject pool is composed of students enrolled in all sections of MAR3023. In the following semesters, instructors in any course (undergraduate, graduate, online, on-site) are encouraged to enroll their classes to participate in studies for which their students are eligible. ​

Important Considerations:​

• 15-minutes of participation is equivalent to 1 Sona Participation credits (on average instructors require/offer 4 credits of research participation which may for example equate to 1% extra credit).  ​
• Please note that instructors must provide an alternative to research participation in order to comply with research ethics standards. In the Spring 2025 semester, the BIL will take care of this and offer alternative assignments for those that are under 18 years old at time of enrollment and those who prefer not to participate in research studies through the Sona System. Thus, in all cases, students sign up through the BIL Sona System ​

Procedure:​

1. Inform us that you like to add your course to the BIL - Sona system​
2. Inform the students enrolled in your courses about the requirements and options for completing the extra credit (either on the syllabus, course website or discussion in class). Make sure to mention (1) the overall Sona Participation Credit requirements/max. and how it equates to % of extra credit in your class and (2) the option for alternative assignments to avoid the coercion of subjects to participate (IRB requirement). A sample syllabus or announcement statement can be downloaded here: 
   
   Syllabus/Announcement Sample
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3. Send the class roster to the Behavioral Insights Lab after the add and drop date​
4. Data collection will begin after the drop/add date and students will be uploaded to the Sona system and emailed their login information. Students will need to complete the prescreen upon creating their account in which they choose either to participate in research studies or take the alternative assignment route (if under 18 years old at time of enrollment or if they prefer to take part in an alternative assignment). Once students decide on either research study participation or alternative, they will be unable to switch.​
5. Please encourage students to participate! We really appreciate all your efforts in ensuring that the Behavioral Insights Lab is off to a good start​
6. The BIL – Sona System closes pre-finals week, at this point we will send you in a timely manner the completion report of student participation in excel