Student subjects earn credit
By Colleen Pohiig
• Emera*d Reporter
Graduate student Carene Da
vis-Slitl is doing research on in
(ergrtnip relations as part of her
dissertation She hopes her re
suits will be published in a
psychology journal when it is
finished this fall.
For the past two years, gradu
ate student Peter Grossenbacher
has researcher! how people per
ceive emotion expressed by
body posture. His research was
inspired by working with brain
damaged patients at a local hos
pital.
Grossonbacher shows his
subjects various photos of body
posture, and the subjects are
expected to identify the emo
tion they think that individual
is feeling.
Doth psychology students are
helped by a readily-availahle
"human subjects pool" of stu
dents who participate in re
search experiments for part of
their class grade.
For the past eight years, stu
dents in 200-levcl psychology
classos have been required to
either participate in various re
search experiments or wrrite a
paper on a pertinent topic.
"The pool is an absolutely
necessary resource for what wo
do in social psychology," L)a
vis-Stitt said. "Everyone is al
ways cooperative and helpful."
Robert Mauro. head of the
psychology department's Hu
man Subjects Pool Committee,
said his department's philoso
phy is that research is impor
tant in psychology.
Grossonbacher said his re
search, when finished, could
have the potential for cross-cul
tural use.
"People who speak different
languages may lx- able to com
municate by interpreting emo
tions through body posture,"
ho said. "This might help dif
ferent cultures to communi
cate."
Although students in the en
try-level classes ure required to
participate in experiments, pro
fessors who teach other psy
chology classes may encourage
their students to be subjects.
Sophomore (kiorge Williams,
a student in a 300-level Child
t
DOC'S
If l)
COCKTAIL RESEARCH
TEAM
165 W. 11th • 683-8101
ROiUERBLADC
EXPERIENCE
We Rent
Rollerblade
In-Line
Skates
by the
Hour or Day.
iv m
UNIVERSITY RESEARCH
second m a senes
Development class, said he is
participating in three experi
ments to earn extra credit
Williams said he doesn't
mind the experiments liecauso
he enjoys helping graduate stu
dents with their research *
Sophomore Ky Kotoen. u stu
dent in the entry level Mind
and Brain class, said lie be
lieves the requirement is un
necessary and a waste of time
"It's a weak, way to make us
learn because we have to do
those to pass the class." he
said. "They should let us learn
something because we want to.
not because we have to.”
The average requirement in
the entry-level classes is four
experiments, or a paper on a
professor-approved topic. The
paper option is for students
who object to the experiments.
The subject pool is used by
anyone in the department who
gets approval to conduct re
search involving humans.
Two committees must ap
prove the research proposal tie
fore the researcher, or "investi
gator.” is permitted to use stu
dents from tho subject pool.
When an investigator usu
ally a professor or graduate stu
dent. but may be an undergrad
uate — comes up with a re
search idea, he or she is re
quired to fill out a description
of the experiment and identify
any possible risks.
The Psychology Department
Human Subjects Committee
then reviews the proposal. This
body, made up of three depart
ment professors, is sepia rate
from the subject pool commu
te®.
Dr. Roliert VVyse, committee
chairman, said the committee
takes throe things Into consid
eration: how the investigator
plans to protect participants
from any Identified risks, confi
dentiality. and assurance that
the investigator will adequately
inform the participants about
the experiment
If the committee agrees the
experiment is safe and ethical,
the proposal goes to the Uni
versity Institutional Review
Board
The hoard, which reviews all
research conducted on campus,
again checks the experiment
proposal lor ethics anti safety
If the board finds everything
in check, the investigator is
then free to ask the Psychology
Department for use of the sub
jet t pool
Experiments done by gradu
ate and undergraduate students
have to also lie approved and
supervised by an adviser
The different levels of ap
proval required to conduct re
search is necessary to safeguard
the participants. Wyse said
"As far as trying to protect
people, it's fairly safe," he said
"If anything, it errs in the direc
tion of being overly cautious
But I believe that's a good thing
in research using human sub
jects"
Wyse said students may buck
out at anytime
The research requirement is
valuable for both students and
investigators. Mauro said The
experiments give students an
understanding of research,
while providing investigators
with willing subjects.
Psychology Professor Don
Tucker, who Is researching
brain waves, sold he believes
the requirement is a good Idea,
especially for researchers
"This is how the University
education differs from a small
college education." he said
"Students can actually conduct
research and create new knowl
edge We don't just teach here,
we make new knowledge."
Computer Products
& Supplies Inc. *£r
3 06/33 Mh z
*1.195
406/33Mhx
$3,575
-»)iiiic«mgi»«i»ir
- Intel 386/486 CPU • 1.2MB FD - 40MB HO •
- 2MB RAM - VGA Color • 14“ VGA Monitor -
• 2 S/P/Gam* -101 KB - MS DOS 5.0 -
AST RESEARCH
fmiu U/384SX MMki
Bran 4M05Mh>
Amthortu4 Dtmitr
Twin Head 386SX/16 Note book
Leading Edge 386SX Note book
iWClAi
2400 M WM Up*—i t 00
IftUl »•// I6 »ro UrtOO
•>yoo"#»,Ati; •**<*!•»/?» I*
f
1004 SW Taylor
Pwttond OR t/Xtt
Ptwno 2234H1
Fu r»0M1
3001 FvwtlnBtotf
CMOm. OH »7«D
Ptwn* J4VXJ14
Fai MS-1171
Mm • Fri l» • *
Sal II -4
I vtar p*ris jno 1*0or F impsinfl/it asm; *v*ii*oi«
PEAOERFORHH
Keep Your Car Running Its Best
With Preventative Maintenance From
485-8226
1917
Franklin
eMuTecreation center
CAMPUS LOST AND FOUND
SALE!
• Umbrellas •Gloves/Hats
• Coats • Books
• Sweaters • Misc. Goodies
Great Bargins-Nothing over $3.00f
Dead Week
June 1st & 2nd
9-5pm
TNK PAR SIDS By GARY LARSON
r:1 iw V — '■.
"I wouldn't do that, bartender— Unless, of course,
you think you're test enough."