Studies

Click a study title for details, and registration when applicable.

18 and over Other age restriction Native English speaker Non-native English speaker Male Female Right-handed Left-handed Normal (or corrected) vision Normal hearing Other

Title	Format	Open seats	Maximum time commitment (minutes)*	Maximum sessions*	Maximum REP Points	Cash Award	Requirements	Description
* Some studies may involve participation over multiple sessions, including screening etc. Not all participants will qualify for all sessions.
College Student Social Connectedness	Self-guided (online)	574	40	1	2	$0	11	We are interested in understanding the impact of the current events (e.g., COVID-19 Pandemic and Aftermath of the civil unrest events) on college students' perceived levels of social connectedness. Interested students will be asked to complete a survey that should take approximately 30-40 minutes. To be eligible, students must be a current college student enrolled in a course that accepts REP points. The survey can only be completed once for 2 REP points. There are no direct risks or benefits to participation. However, students may experience some discomfort when reflecting on current events. Students who have completed this study in a previous semester can complete it again. Upon signing up for the study, students will receive an email with the survey link.
Neural Correlates of Sexual and Gender Minority Stress	Live (in-person or remote)	Log in to contact study team	240	3	10	$80	1, 2, 3, 11	This study is looking at mental health and stress in individuals who identify as a sexual and/or gender minority. This is a hybrid study with two sessions over Zoom and one in-person at the Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain (2025 E River Pkwy, Minneapolis, MN 55414). Participation involves: The first Zoom visit is one hour. In it, participants would review the consent form, complete questionnaires, and write two short paragraphs. The second Zoom visit is 1.5 hours, and includes speech and arithmetic tasks as well as taking saliva samples using a provided kit. The third visit is an MRI scan at the Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain, which is followed by a few final surveys and tasks.
Sensorimotor Decision-Making Study_Spring 2024	Live (in-person or remote)	0	240	2	10	$0	1, 9	Are you an individual with normal or corrected-to-normal vision between the ages of 18 and 80? We are conducting a computer-based research study to investigate how people make decisions under uncertainty. This study will take place in-person and will award a total of 10 REP points. The study will require 2 sessions with a max of 2 hours per session. The 2 sessions will need to be conducted at least TWO WEEKS APART. When signing up, please SIGN UP FOR TWO SLOTS that are TWO WEEKS APART. If you have already participated in this study last semester, you can participate again but you can only sign up for 1 slot and earn 5 REP points. Thank you! Location: Elliott Hall room S050 (in the basement)
Social decision-making under uncertainty 3	Self-guided (online)	80	90	1	3	$0	1, 9	Are you an individual with normal or corrected to normal vision between the ages of 18-80? We are conducting a computer-based research study to investigate how people make decisions under uncertainty. This fully online study is worth one REP point for every 30 minutes of your time. This study will take up to 90 minutes to complete (although generally less than 1 hour), thus each person will receive 3 REP points for their participation.
International Student Mental Health and Healing (Cash Only Study)	Live (in-person or remote)	Log in to contact study team	90	1	0	$20	1, 11	We invite current undergraduate international students to participate in a research study at the University of Minnesota about international students' mental well-being. The research aims to gather data to update the President's Initiative for Student Mental Health (PRISMH) educational curriculum on student wellbeing. If you participate, you will be interviewed by a current student about your mental health perspectives and experiences and the perspectives and experiences of other students you may know. The interview will be approximately 60 minutes and can be conducted via Zoom or in person at a convenient time. Participants will receive a $20 gift card upon completing the interview.
Tests for Employee Hiring- Study A ($20 Bonus Available)	Self-guided (online)	420	120	2	4	$0	1	In this two-part research study conducted by University of Minnesota, you will complete four tests used in employee hiring. After completion of each test, you will complete a short questionnaire. The study should take two hours to complete: 60 minutes for part 1 and 60 minutes for part 2. You will be invited to participate in part 2 of the study once you have completed part 1 of the study. You will be compensated with 4 REP credits at the end of part 2 of the study. Participants that score among the top 30% of participants across both parts of the study will receive a $20 Amazon.com gift card as a bonus at the conclusion of the study. IMPORTANT: There are both Study A and Study B versions of this study available for REP credit. These are DIFFERENT studies with slightly different tests. You may participate in both studies if you wish to earn REP credit for both and be eligible for BOTH cash bonuses. However, you should NOT participate in both parts or both studies on the same day.
Managerial Job Simulations	Live (in-person or remote) and self-guided (online)	0	120	1	5	$0	1, 9	Would you like to gain experience in management developmental exercises for skills such as planning and organizing, conflict management, and leadership? We are looking for volunteers to help us research managerial skills! You will be taking part in an exercise to assess your leadership ability. The study will take place in-person in Elliot Hall. The total length is around 1.5-2 hours and you will gain a total of 5 REP credits.
Visual Search - Find the Target! (CASH or CREDIT)	Live (in-person or remote)	0	60	2	3	$15	1, 2, 9, 11	How quickly and accurately can you detect a target?! Participants will search for a target picture (such as a hair dryer) presented among other pictures and press a button when you find the target. This is a two session study. This means that participants will need to come in to the lab once a day for two days in a row (for example, Session 1 will be done on Monday and Session 2 will be done the next day on Tuesday). The task will take less than 30 minutes for Session 1 and about 30 minutes for Session 2. This is an in-person study in Elliott Hall, Room S413. You will be awarded 3 REP points or $15. Please only sign-up if you can make it to both sessions, and do not sign-up if you have already participated in "Visual Attention (with Eye Tracking)."
Mental Health Help-Seeking in College Students	Self-guided (online)	0	60	1	2	$0	1	The goal of my study is to understand undergraduate students? attitudes towards seeking help for anxiety and depression from a variety of informal and formal sources. In the study, participants will complete several psychological questionnaires that measure your preferred sources of help, attitudes towards different sources of help, experiences of perceived discrimination, and social belongingness on campus. The session can be completed asynchronously at any time and should take under an hour to complete. In order to participate in this study, you must be a current undergraduate student at the University of Minnesota and 18 years of age or older. If you are interested in completing this study, please click t the enroll in study button.
The role of perceptual grouping in the auditory enhancement effect	Live (in-person or remote)	Log in to contact study team	120	2	10	$0	1, 10	The study measures a perceptual "pop-out" effect, for which the underlying mechanisms have not been established. The study involves listening to test stimuli presented at a comfortable loudness via headphones and responding via a keyboard or a mouse click according to the instructions provided by an experimenter. The study requires that participants have normal hearing (which will be tested before the start of the experiment) and are able to maintain focus for 10-15 min at a time.
Combined pupillometry and EEG study of speech-in-noise perception	Live (in-person or remote)	Log in to contact study team	300	2	12	$0	1, 3, 9	This is a two-session in-person study, each taking roughly 2-2.5 hours (on different days). Note that a key goal of this study is to recruit participants spanning wide age range, with the current emphasis being on recruiting participants over the age of 30. The first session includes two parts: 1) A practice session for a speech perception task involving listening to two speakers, while trying to understand sentences spoken by one of them. At the end of each trial, you will speak into a microphone what you thought the target sentence was, and then respond to a multiple-choice question. In addition to practicing the task, we would test if our lab's eye tracker can accurately track your eyes, since the main part of the study (session 2) includes both EEG and eye tracking (pupillometry). If we cannot achieve good eye tracking performance, the session may need to be terminated early. This first part of the session takes place in the CATSS lab in the basement of Elliott Hall. 2) A sequence of shorter tasks, including questionnaires, some cognitive tasks (e.g., working memory), and one listening task. As a participant, you would sit in a booth and read text prompts on the screen and respond to them using the keyboard and/or mouse. This takes place in N640 of Elliott Hall. The second session is focused almost exclusively on the speech perception task (i.e., same as the first part of session #1). However, in addition to eye tracking, we would also be measuring your brain activity using EEG. This involves wearing a cap with a number of electrodes attached at different places along the scalp. To make EEG work, a water-based gel needs to be injected into the cap at each electrode site. This is non-invasive, but having gel in your hair is a bit of an inconvenience. There is a bathroom with a shower head available near the lab where participants are free to wash their hair after the study. Shampoo and towels are available. The compensation for the study is 10-12 REP points for the 2 sessions or $15/hour (about $60-$70 for the two sessions). It is possible mix and match to complete one session for REP points and another session for cash. However, only sign-up if you are planning to participate in both sessions. If you are interested in participating, email PuiYii Goh (goh00002@umn.edu), Brady Chisholm (chish071@umn.edu), or Juraj Mesik (mesik002@umn.edu) with several dates and times when you would be available for the in-person study.
Music Perception Auditory Study	Live (in-person or remote)	4	240	2	10	$20	1, 11	Participants with hearing loss or hearing impairment are needed for listening experiments at the University of Minnesota. Must be between 18 and 75 years old. Sessions are two hours long (including breaks), and the experiment involves multiple sessions. Payment $20/hr.
Tests for Employee Hiring- Study B ($20 Bonus Available)	Self-guided (online)	463	120	2	4	$0	1	In this two-part research study conducted by University of Minnesota, you will complete four tests used in employee hiring. After completion of each test, you will complete a short questionnaire. The study should take two hours to complete: 60 minutes for part 1 and 60 minutes for part 2. You will be invited to participate in part 2 of the study once you have completed part 1 of the study. You will be compensated with 4 REP credits at the end of part 2 of the study. Participants that score among the top 30% of participants across both parts of the study will receive a $20 Amazon.com gift card as a bonus at the conclusion of the study. IMPORTANT: There are both Study A and Study B versions of this study available for REP credit. These are DIFFERENT studies with slightly different tests. You may participate in both studies if you wish to earn REP credit for both and be eligible for BOTH cash bonuses. However, you should NOT participate in both parts or both studies on the same day.
A Study of Reactions to Watching a Distressing Film Clip	Self-guided (online)	246	45	2	2	$0	1	We are interested in individuals' beliefs and feelings after watching a distressing film clip. The goal of this research is to help us better understand how different people react to a short film that may be distressing. You are eligible to participate because you are a University of Minnesota (UMN-TC) student and you are 18 years of age or older. We expect that you will be in this research study on two separate days. The initial part takes approximately 15-20 minutes and involves completing a survey and watching the brief film clip. After receiving the link to the initial survey, you will have one week to complete it. After one week, we will assume you have withdrawn from the study. Two days later you will be sent a follow-up survey that will take about 5-10 minutes. After receiving the link, you will have two days to complete the follow-up survey. You will get REP points based on how much of the study you do. The initial survey is worth 1 point and the follow-up survey is worth 1 point. Please complete the surveys alone in a quiet private place.
Reward sensitivity, motivation and risk taking behaviors in healthy young adults	Live (in-person or remote)	Log in to contact study team	210	1	7	$0	1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 11	The purpose of this observational study is to quantify associations among measures of reward sensitivity, motivation and self-reported risk-taking in a healthy sample of college students, ages 18-22. We aim to study 200 people. You will complete a phone screening and will then make one visit to our laboratory. During this visit, you will complete health history questionnaires, personality questionnaires, and a number of computerized tests of memory, reward processing, and decision-making. Participants will receive 6 REP points in return for their full participation. Please see inclusion criteria below. Email mllab@umn.edu for more information.
Generative AI and Worker Well-being (Cash-Study Only)	Live (in-person or remote)	Log in to contact study team	60	1	0	$15	1	We are researchers at the Carlson School of Management and running a lab study on how humans interact with generative AI chatbot and perform various writing tasks with or without working with the AI chatbot. The study lasts about an hour. You will work on three writing tasks and answer questions about your experiences. You will receive $15 in cash payment. We also offer bonus prizes for the three top performers: $50 for 1st place, $30 for 2nd place, and $10 for 3rd place. We will select and contact the winners at the end of the study. You can sign up by clicking http://bit.ly/exp_register and choosing your available time in the Google form. If you have any questions, you can contact us at chingren@umn.edu, tengye@umn.edu or zhan7569@umn.edu.
Assessing Reading Strategies of Normally-Sighted Subjects (IN-PERSON ONLY)	Live (in-person or remote)	2	90	1	4	$15	1, 3, 9	In this study, participants will read paragraphs on a computer screen. An eye tracker will track your eye positions during the task. We ask that participants have normal or corrected-to-normal vision, be native English speakers, and not wear any eye makeup. The experiment is a single session lasting up to one and half hour, and participants will be compensated with either a $15 gift card or 4 REP points. There are not any direct benefits or costs to participants. The experiment is in-person only and is located in Engel Vision & Imaging Laboratory (https://engellab.psych.umn.edu/). The location is in secured areas of the basement of Elliott Hall, and cell phone reception may be limited.
Listening to our Students: Toward an Intersectional Intro to Psychology (Must Have Taken Intro to Psych At College/University in Last Three Years)	Self-guided (online)	39	30	1	1	$0	1, 11	We want to know more about what students are experiencing in their introductory psychology course and how it impacts them. The introductory psychology course is important because it is taken by many college students, it is the only psychology course many people take, and serves as the gateway into the field of psychology for others. What is taught and how it is taught can influence what people think about the field of psychology, so it?s important to know former students? responses. Knowing what students think and feel about their introductory psychology course experience could provide us with the information needed to improve how the course is taught. This could help us to improve future student experiences with introductory psychology and what people think about the field of psychology, especially for those from marginalized communities. We expect that you are at least 18 years of age and will be in this research study for 30 minutes or less for the first phase of the study. You can also volunteer to be contacted for the second phase of the study, which will consist of focus group interviews that will last 90 minutes or less.
Test Your Musical Ability	Self-guided (online)	0	30	1	1	$0	1, 10	The Auditory Perception and Cognition Lab is looking for volunteers to participate in our study on pitch perception and musical ability. We are seeking a wide range of participants, from the musically impaired to expert musicians, so all ranges of musical ability are welcome to participate. In this study, you will fill out a few questions about yourself. The entire study will take approximately 10 minutes of your time. By participating in our study, you are eligible to partake in a raffle to receive a $50 Amazon gift card.
**Under 18 years of age only** - College Well-Being and Thinking Study	Live (in-person or remote) and self-guided (online)	0	255	3	12	$0	2, 3	College can be both a stressful and exciting time and we are interested in better understanding how students think, feel, and act during this unique period of life. This research study aims to better understand how students change during the college years, and how students concurrently enrolled in high school or early college students may be different from full time college students. Participating in the study would involve 3 sessions, scheduled during this academic term, as follows: Session 1: a 90-minute questionnaire that you can complete online on your own, with questions about your classes, your social and emotional well-being, and your ways of coping with stress or anxiety; if you complete Session 1 you will earn 3 REP points. Session 2: a 90-minute Zoom-based session that you will complete with a researcher at an agreed-upon time; this Zoom-based session should occur within one week of Session 1. In this session, you will engage in a variety of cognitive tasks, such as generating words that begin or end with specific letters, or deciding what "comes next" in a series. If you complete Session 2 you will earn 6 REP points (3 points for your time plus 3 meeting points). Session 3: a 75-minute questionnaire that you can complete online on your own, with questions like those in Session 1. You will be emailed an invitation to complete Session 3 during the last week of classes; if you complete Session 3 you will earn 3 REP points. Because you are under 18 years of age, you will first need to obtain Consent to take part in this research study from one of your parents or a guardian. You can choose which parent or guardian you ask to give their consent. If they agree, we will also ask your parent or guardian to answer some questions about you, such as how you learned about early college opportunities and how they advise or support you in your choices. When you sign up for a seat we will provide a link for the Parental Consent Form and Survey. Once we receive the completed Consent Form, we will email you the Assent Form, the Session 1 questionnaire, and instructions on how to schedule the Session 2 researcher-led Zoom-based meeting.
Visual Search Task: Find the Dot (Native Chinese Speakers)	Live (in-person or remote) and self-guided (online)	Log in to contact study team	60	1	3	$15	1, 2, 4, 9, 11	This is an in-person study for native Chinese speakers in Elliott Hall. You will search for a target dot presented among characters and press a button when you find the target. Please meet me in Room S413 and I will bring you to the testing room. 3 REP points or $15 will be awarded. If you have questions, feel free to contact me (Mikayla Krech) at krech036@umn.edu. Also, if you would like to participate in this study but are unavailable during the given time slots, please email me to schedule another time.
Perceived Autonomy Support during Parent-Adolescent Navigation of Smartphone Ownership: A Retrospective Qualitative Analysis	Live (in-person or remote)	Log in to contact study team	30	1	2	$0	1, 2	We are interested in understanding the lived experiences of emerging adults who were given a smartphone prior to age 18. We are also interested in hearing parents' experiences deciding to give their child a smartphone. This is a retrospective study, meaning that we will be interviewing participants about past experiences. Student participants (age 18-22) will be asked to participate in a single 30-minute interview over Zoom. Parents can be of any age. It is not required to have a parent join in order to participate. There are neither significant risks nor benefits of participating in this study.
Cognition and Empathy	Self-guided (online)	0	60	1	2	$0	1	We are working on a research study exploring factors related to cognition and feelings about others. We are interested in understanding how undergraduate students think about people. This research opportunity consists of a survey that can be completed online, at a time and in a location convenient to you. The whole study should take approximately 45 minutes. This study is 100% voluntary. If you'd like to participate, please click the button below
Visual Attention and Memory for Colored Squares	Live (in-person or remote)	1	60	1	3	$0	11, 1, 2, 9	In this study, you will look at images of colored squares and identify changes from one moment to another. This study will take an hour to complete, and you will come to Elliot Hall room S107 where I will then take you to the testing room. Please sign up only when you are confident you can make it.
Epistemic Cognition in Digital Reading	Live (in-person or remote)	Log in to contact study team	120	2	5	$30	1, 9, 10	***WE ARE STILL RECRUITING Spring 2024, please contact study team member to sign up.*** This is a remote study that will take place entirely over Zoom in 2 separate sessions. In the first session, you will complete a series of assessments and tasks to evaluate your overall writing and comprehension skill, prior knowledge, and attitudes towards technology. In the second session, you will complete a writing task as you search for information online. During this session, you will be asked to use an open-source tracking software. Each task takes up to 60 minutes to complete. 5 REP points or $30 will be awarded for your completion of the study. We encourage participants who can commit to both sessions to sign up.
Get Personal Feedback on Employment Interview Performance Research	Self-guided (online)	446	60	2	2	$0	1, 9	In this research study, you will be asked to join an online virtual interviewing platform we developed, complete a demographic measure, and then record your response to a virtual interview. You will be asked to provide an email address or phone number to notify you when feedback is available, which will happen in less than 2 weeks. When that happens, you will log into the platform to complete the second part of the study which includes a second interview and some survey questions. Feedback will be provided again after this second interview. You will gain 1 REP points for completing the first half of the study and 1 REP points for the second half of the study
Decision-making under uncertainty - 2	Live (in-person or remote)	0	100	1	5	$0	1, 9, 10	Are you an individual with normal or corrected to normal vision and audition between the ages of 18-80? We are conducting a computer-based research study to investigate how people make decisions under uncertainty. This in-person study is worth one REP point for travelling plus one REP point for each 30 minutes of your time. The study will take up to 2 hours, and give you up to 5 REP points.
How well can you hear out the target?: Speech perception study	Live (in-person or remote)	Log in to contact study team	150	1	6	$0	1, 3, 9, 10	If you are an adult with normal hearing and ENGLISH IS YOUR FIRST LANGUAGE, you are eligible to participate. This study involves listening to speech and typing the correct sentence with the keyboard. This study cannot be done online, so you NEED TO COME IN THE LAB (located in Elliott Hall). It takes around two hours and if you have not had an audiogram (hearing test) in our lab within the past year, it will take extra 10 minutes. You can be compensated either by REP points OR CASH $15/hour. Please contact Jaeeun Lee: lee03881@umn.edu if you wish to participate.

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