Information for Researchers

A few VERY IMPORTANT POINTS to cosider when using the PIPER system for your research.

1. It is possible to post more slots in PIPER than you have credit to give to participants. So, you can potentialy have more participants than you can credit (a significant problem). It is very easy to add sessions/slots to the system, but it is very difficult/impossible to trim slots back. Please plan accordingly.

2. Do NOT post slots without room locations. Research Participants deserve to know where the study location will be when they sign up. PIPER will not allow you to change the room after you create a slot. You must delete the whole session/slot OR email each RP individually to let them know where the study is located. Please plan in advance and secure the location before you ask RPs to sign up.

3. The faculty sponsor should always be listed in the contact box when you create a study. A student can be the primary contact person. The PIPER coordinator and RPs need an easy way to identify who is the faculty sponsor of a study because students are not always responsive to RP concerns or questions. 

Basic instructions for Faculty Researchers:

If you need more specific help for any one of these steps or tasks, then consult the manuals in PIPER (click on "support" in PIPER) or contact the PIPER coordinator.

1. Download and review the complete PIPER policy (document is in .pdf format).

2. Submit your PIPER alternative assignment to the Psychology Department main office (refer to the PIPER policy) before you can have access to the pool.

3. After you receive IRB approval (or RPE approval in some circumstances) and notification of the number of PIPER credits that have been allocated to your study, you can create your experiment in PIPER (at this point your study will be invisible to research participants until it is cleared by the PIPER coordinator).

4. The study cannot be cleared until you have created it in the PIPER system. Be certain to enter information in every field or it will not create your study.

5. Provide a copy of your IRB approval and send an email to the PIPER coordinator (piper@tcnj.edu) and ask that your study be approved. After the PIPER coordinator confirms that you have IRB approval, the credit allocations are accurate, and you have submitted your PIPER alternative assignment, your study will be cleared and displayed in PIPER.

6. After you collect some data, assign credit to research participants. Please assign credits to your research participants within one week of the appointment.
7. When you have finished collecting data, please make your study "invisible" to keep the PIPER screen clear.


Basic instructions for Student Researchers using PIPER for PSY 299:

If you need more specific help for any one of these steps or tasks, then consult the manuals in PIPER (click on "support" in PIPER) or contact the PIPER coordinator.
1. Download and review the complete PIPER policy (document is in .pdf format).

2. Your professor should help you obtain Research Planning and Ethics approval. You cannot access the pool until you have approval.

3. PIPER credits have been assigned to your PSY 299 class. Your instructor will determine how many of these credits your study will use. This number will be entered into the "Maximum number of credits..." box when you create your study. 

Your instructor should email the PIPER coordinator:
(a) the title of your study
(b) the number of credits allocated to this study
(c) and a statement that RPE approval has been obtained. 

4. Now, you can create your study in PIPER. Your professor must create your study for you or make you a student administrator of his or her PIPER account. PIPER studies cannot be cleared for viewing and use until they have been created in PIPER. It will speed up the process if all the pertinent information (in Item #3) is conveyed to the coordinator.

5. You will create and manage your study through your professors PIPER account. Your professor can give you access - there is a link on the mainpage of a faculty PIPER account.

6. After you collect some data, assign credit to research participants. Please assign credits to your research participants within one week of the appointment.

7. When you have finished collecting data, please make your study "invisible" to keep the PIPER screen clear.

If you have any questions or problems, please contact the PIPER coordinator (piper@tcnj.edu).