LISTING A STUDY

The Harvard Psychology Study Pool was developed specifically for the psychology department faculty, post-doctoral students, graduate students, undergraduate thesis writers, and Board of Honors Tutors (specifically for student projects) who have a direct connection to a professor or supervisor in the psychology department.

Before you begin

Submit your study for approval to the Committee on the Use of Human Subjects (CUHS).

  • Include the Study Pool Application
  • Include the Debriefing Form (only if there is deception in the study)
  • Include Harvard Special Determinations: Psychology Study Pool
  • Include Special Populations:  Children, Minors, or Summer School Students
     

Post your study in SONA

Important Policy Note: We now only support paid studies. When creating a new study, you must select the Payment option. Studies set up for Credit will not be approved.

Step 1: Log In and Select Study Type

  • Access the System: Log in to the SONA site using your researcher credentials.
  • Initiate Study Creation: Select Add New Study from the top toolbar.
  • Select Study Type: Choose from Standard (Lab), Multi-part Standard, Online Internal Survey, or Online External Study.
  • Set Compensation: You will be prompted to choose between Credit or Payment. You must select Payment. Note that this selection is permanent and cannot be changed once the study is created.

Step 2: Enter Basic Study Information

  • Identify the Study: Enter a unique Study Name and a Brief Abstract. For paid studies, it is beneficial to include compensation details in the abstract (e.g., "Participants will receive a $10 gift card").
  • Detailed Description: Provide a full explanation of the study tasks for participants to review before signing up.
  • Eligibility and Preparation: List any physical or demographic requirements in the Eligibility Requirements field and any necessary pre-study actions in the Preparation field.
  • Logistics: Define the Duration in minutes and the Payment value. The payment field is text-based, allowing you to enter specific amounts (e.g., "$15") or descriptions (e.g., "Amazon Gift Card").
  • Personnel: Select the Researcher(s) and the Principal Investigator (PI).

Step 3: Regulatory and Access Details

  • IRB Compliance: Enter your IRB Approval Code and Expiration Date. The system will automatically deactivate the study once this date passes.
  • Initial Status: Set Approved? to No (pending administrator review). Set Active Study? to Yes so it becomes available to participants immediately upon approval.
  • External Links: For online external studies, paste your survey link into the Study URL field.

Step 4: Advanced Settings and Saving

  • Apply Restrictions: Use Pre-Requisites, Disqualifiers, or Course Restrictions to control who can sign up based on their participation history or enrollment.
  • Save Configuration: Click Add This Study to save your work and move to the Study Information page.

Step 5: Submit for Approval

  • Request Approval: On the Study Information page, locate the Study Status section and click Send Request.
  • Provide Documentation: Use the form to send a message to the administrator. You must upload your IRB approval letter as an attachment (5MB maximum) or send a PDF of your IRB approval letter to studypool@wjh.harvard.edu
  • Await Notification: You will receive an email once the administrator has reviewed and approved your study.

Step 6: Add Timeslots (Required for Visibility)

  • Navigate to Timeslots: Approved studies are only visible to participants once available slots are added.
  • Add Slots: Select View/Administer Timeslots from the Study Menu, then click Add A Timeslot.
    • Lab Studies: Enter the date, time, location, and capacity for each session.
    • Online Studies: Create a single timeslot with the total participant capacity and set the date/time to the final participation deadline for the term.