Frequently Asked Questions: I have a PIPER requirement, what is next? If you are enrolled in PSY 101, 121, or 299, then your course has a PIPER requirement. For all the rules and your obligation/rights as a research participant, click on the PARTICIPANTS button above. Is there an alternative to participating in studies? Yes. Click on the "participants" and look for the details on the alternative assignment. Can I earn some credits through the alternative assignment and some through research studies? No. The alternative assignment is all-or-none. If I sign up for the alternative assignment, can I change my mind and then complete PIPER studies for credit? No. Once you declare your intention to complete the alternative assignment, you MUST complete the alternative assignment. When will more studies be posted? Studies are posted when experimenters are ready to collect data. The piper coordinator does not know when new studies will be posted. How many research opportunities will there be? It is impossible for the coordinator to know when sessions will be posted (see above) or how many participants will be recruited for a particular study. The PIPER corrdinator and members of the Psychology Faculty monitor PIPER activity all semester. We work to ensure that there are enough credits for students who have a PIPER requirement.  For example, we block access to students participating for extra credit until we are reasonably certain that there will be enough opportunities. We will not penalize students who make a good faith effort to complete the requirement if there are not enough PIPER studies during the semester.  If there are plently of opportunities during the semester, we will expect students to complete the requirement. We advise you to start early and check the system often. If you have significant time constraints, we recommend that you complete alternative assignment. I am having problems with the PIPER pool, what do I do? First, look on these web pages for an answer to your question or contact the researcher to resolve a study-related problem. If you still need help, then contact the PIPER coordinator via email (piper@tcnj.edu). Can I participate in the same experiment more than once? No. The system will not allow you sign up for an experiment a second time. In special situations, the researcher might ask you to participate in another session. It is ok to participate in these special situations. The researcher should coordinate follow-up appointments and allocate credits for your additional time. What is PIPER? The Psychology Department contains many faculty who conduct research that requires research participants. The PIPER pool helps support this very important contribution to science. Student participation is highly valued and appreciated by the faculty. The Psychology Department also values the benefits of experiential learning. PIPER is one means of promoting this value. The PIPER requirement enhances student learning by providing firsthand experience with research. Furthermore, participants will learn about the kinds of research experiences and labs that will be available to them as upper-class students. How do I use the PIPER pool for my research? Click on the "researchers" button above for detailed information. I am teaching a course with a PIPER requirement, what do I need to do? Click on the "instructors" button above for detailed information.

Last updated 7/13/2009
by Andrew Leynes