Use of Subject Pool Participants
Subject pools are undergraduate students enrolled in particular departmental courses requiring participation in one or more research projects. The Institutional Review Board provides guidance and oversight of departmental subject pools, and reviews all research requesting subject pool participation. All student participation in subject pool research must be completely voluntary. Departments provide students with incentives (usually extra credit) to participate in the subject pool. Reimbursement for participation must not jeopardize subject confidentiality or anonymity. Any subject pools offering extra credit to participating students must provide alternative opportunities to earn extra credit to students declining to participate in research. Subject pools including subjects under 18 years of age are required to obtain parental consent prior to any minors involvement in research. It is up to the student to decide whether to participate in any study; instructors cannot mandate or require student participation. In accordance with our recruitment policy, instructors are strongly discouraged from recruiting subjects they directly supervise or selecting subjects on such basis. Subject pool requirements and procedures vary by department so it is best to consult with your individual departments for specific guidelines and additional requirements.
Department of Communication Studies
In the department of Communication Studies, any class for which extra credit may be given can provide volunteers for the participant pool. Such a class is often but not always a large lecture section such as CMS 306M, Professional Communication Skills. A course such as 306M, for instance, will provide extra points (a maximum of 4pts) for their students to do a maximum of 2 projects (outside research, or other cultural activity such as viewing a performance or listening to a speaker). Students are notified of this opportunity in the syllabus. Students can look on-line (http://commstudies.utexas.edu/index.htm) to see if opportunities are available. Then, they sign up for these opportunities on the participant pool board located on the 7th floor of CMA outside the main office. The researchers will provide an alphabetized list of the participants in their study to the Instructors of the course such as 306M. Students interested in earning extra credit will regularly check this account for opportunities to sign up for. These opportunities will occur throughout the semester, and are not guaranteed at any specific time. They are first come, first serve. The students AI will receive a written notice from the researcher telling him/her that the student participated. Finally, CMS researchers and instructors post alternative studies to participation at the same Web address provided above.
Department of Psychology
At the University of Texas at Austin, the Department of Psychology requires each student enrolled in PSY 301 to gain some familiarity with, and appreciate of, the aims, methods, problems, and results of psychological research. There are two options the student has for completing this requirement: the research paper option, and the experiment option. The two research requirement options are discussed during one of the first meetings of the Psychology 301 class. If you feel that you cannot complete the requirement in either of the ways outlined on this page, you should see the teaching assistant to discuss the possibility of alternatives.
Department of Educational Psychology
Some of the undergraduate courses in the Department of Educational Psychology have a subject pool requirement. By virtue of being registered in EDP 310 (Individual Learning Skills), EDP 363 (Human Sexuality), or EDP 371 (Introduction to Statistics), you become part of the Subject Pool. The subject pool requirement applies to all students enrolled including those taking these courses on a credit/no-credit basis. If you would prefer not to, or are unable to participate in the research, you may complete an alternate assignment. This assignment, given at semester's end, will be a written review of related research. The time needed to complete the assignment will be approximately the same as that for the research study participation. If you have additional questions about the Subject Pool requirement or have trouble registering through this website, please contact Brad Gerber, Subject Pool TA, at blgerber@mail.utexas.edu or at 809-8379 (before 10pm).
Department of Advertising
The Department of Advertising permits students to earn extra credit by participating in a departmental subject pool. The pool is open to advertising courses: 305, 319, 334, and 344. The subject pool enhances student experiences by providing an experiential method of learning about current issues in brand communications. This pool is completely voluntary and no student is required to participate. Alternatives to participating in the subject pool are discussed by each participating class instructor. For more information visit the advertising subject pool’s home page or download their informational brochure. You can also contact the subject pool director:
Terry Daugherty, Ph. D., Assistant Professor: Terry.Daugherty@mail.utexas.edu
For more information see our Policies and Procedures Manual