I teach at a community college but only relatively recently have become concerned at the rather questionable request that all Intropsy students at many universities are required to participate in a certain # of research studies. My first concern was with the rights of the students and the ethics of requiring students to comply to such in order to receive credit for a course. That is still a concern but the other issue involves serious concerns about the validity of research studies that are based on data collected from subjects forced to participate. When I ask my student about this, they universally respond that when being a subject in a research study to fulfill a course requirement--especially one involving a survey with tons of questions--they pretty much blow it off, meaning they get through it as quickly as possible without considering the questions with much deliberation.
I had a graduate student from Northwestern come to Oakton asking for subjects and I did my best to let them know:1) this was voluntary; and, 2) this graduate student was very interested in honest and valid responses. If they didn't feel they could do so after starting the survey (way too long), that both he and I would rather they drop out and I would still provide them (yes, pathetic) the extra-credit points promised. Not a minor point and very intriguing is that this graduate student paid each participant $5--both on the pre and post test of his survey. That's not much in today's world but I truly believe it showed respect to his participant pool that was not lost one them so made them feel more valued as well as more obliged to do the best they could. Joan Joan Warmbold Boggs Professor of Psychology [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Let me echo Marie's statements. We also had very poor compliance with the > extra credit system. that is why we switched to a credit system. > > We ARE constantly modifying some of the subtleties of the requirement, but > it continues to be a large component of the course grade. > > Nevertheless, what Marie says about no-shows and a disrespect of the > research process in general were problems. > > Annette > > > Annette Kujawski Taylor, Ph.D. > Professor of Psychology > University of San Diego > 5998 Alcala Park > San Diego, CA 92110 > 619-260-4006 > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > ---- Original message ---- >>Date: Mon, 23 Jul 2007 11:53:27 -0400 >>From: Marie Helweg-Larsen <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >>Subject: [tips] Re: Extra Credit subject pools >>To: "Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS)" >> <[email protected]> >> >>We tried an extra credit subject pool for many years and could not get >>it to work satisfactorily. The main problem was that students would sign >>up and not show up. So not only did we not get as many participants as >>we needed for an active faculty and student research program (most extra >>credit was minimal and not utilized by that many students regardless of >>how they could earn it). But we also felt that we had a system where >>students disrespected our research program (there was obvious no >>incentive for them to show up). So we just last semester switched to >>requiring research participation (or they can during designated "office >>hours" with our academic associate read and answer questions about a >>research article; the research articles are suggested by the 100 level >>professors). We have written a detailed handout that every 100-level >>professor attaches to his or her syllabus. Professors cannot alter or >>change the requirements (it is a department level requirement unlike the >>extra credit arrangement which was up to each professor to arrange). >>We only require research participation in 100 level classes but students >>in 200 and 300 level classes can use the pool for their class-related >>research and faculty can continue to offer extra credit in non-100 level >>courses for research participation) >>Cheers >>Marie >> >>Deb Briihl wrote: >> >>> Hi! We are looking into starting a subject pool. I am looking for >>> information from people that have one on their campus that gives extra >>> credit rather than requires students to do experiments (or something >>> else). What specifically do you do? What is written in the syllabus? >>> One problem is so many different people teach intro to psych here - >>> how do you handle that? Do you just use intro to psych students, or do >>> you use other classes as well? >>> >>> Deb >>> >>> Dr. Deborah S. Briihl >>> Dept. of Psychology and Counseling >>> Valdosta State University >>> Valdosta, GA 31698 >>> (229) 333-5994 >>> [EMAIL PROTECTED] >>> http://chiron.valdosta.edu/dbriihl/ >>> >>> Well I know these voices must be my soul... >>> Rhyme and Reason - DMB >>> >>> --- >>> To make changes to your subscription go to: >>> http://acsun.frostburg.edu/cgi-bin/lyris.pl?enter=tips&text_mode=0&lang=english >>> >> >> >>-- >>**************************************************** >>Marie Helweg-Larsen, Ph.D. >>Associate Professor of Psychology >>Dickinson College, P.O. Box 1773 >>Carlisle, PA 17013 >>Office: (717) 245-1562, Fax: (717) 245-1971 >>http://alpha.dickinson.edu/departments/psych/helwegm >> >>**************************************************** >> >> >>--- >>To make changes to your subscription go to: >>http://acsun.frostburg.edu/cgi-bin/lyris.pl?enter=tips&text_mode=0&lang=english >> > > --- > To make changes to your subscription go to: > http://acsun.frostburg.edu/cgi-bin/lyris.pl?enter=tips&text_mode=0&lang=english > > > --- To make changes to your subscription go to: http://acsun.frostburg.edu/cgi-bin/lyris.pl?enter=tips&text_mode=0&lang=english
