The Paid Participant Studies List is hosted on the Psychology Graduate Student Council website. While most studies here are conducted in the Psychology Department, other departments recruiting participants are welcome to advertise. Anyone is welcome to sign up for the mailing list.
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Current Studies
Please check the eligibility requirements for each study. Some studies are only open to UBC students, others are open to the general public.
Last updated: August 13, 2019
Adult Health FASD Study
Researcher: Drs. Joanne Weinberg (PI), Tammy Bodnar, and Charlis Raineki
Description: We are investigating the role of the immune system in health for adults with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). You will be asked to complete questionnaires, play iPad games, have your picture taken, provide a small blood and saliva sample, and have a study doctor take some routine health measurements.
Eligibility: BC residents between the ages of 22 and 50+ who have an official FASD Diagnosis or who were not exposed to alcohol prenatally
Location: UBC Campus (LSI) or BC Women’s Health Centre (4500 Oak St, Vancouver, BC)
Contact Information: You may fill out our contact form at http://tiny.cc/adulthealthstudy. You may also email adulthealth.fasd@ubc.ca or call us at 604-809-5574
Reimbursement/Time: Participants will receive monetary reimbursement for their participation. The study will involve one visit lasting approximately 3 to 5 hours (or less).
Study End Date: Posted on August 13, 2019. No end date specified.
Luck and Loss Aversion
Study Title: Luck and Loss Aversion
Researcher: Ke Zhang, Luke Clark (PI), Sophie Harvey (RA), Jasper Wang (RA)
Description: This session involves a monetary decision-making task and few questionnaires. You have a chance to be be awarded a cash bonus of up to $20 cash (depends on how much you win).
Eligibility:Participants must have normal or corrected vision; Students.
Location: Audain/POND 4045, 4th Floor – 6398 University Boulevard, Vancouver, BC Canada V6T 1Z4
Contact Information: Ke Zhang, kezhang@psych.ubc.ca, 604-827-0619
Reimbursement/Time: $10 (for your time) + cash bonus of up to $20 (depends on how much you win)
Study End Date: August 30, 2019.
Transfer learning across multiple devices
Researcher: Joanna McGrenere and Jessalyn Alvina (Postdoctoral Fellow)
Description: The purpose of this study is to investigate the best practices to help users learn how to use an application that they access from different devices such as laptops, smartphones, or tablets.
The study consists of a questionnaire and an interview. In the questionnaire session, we will ask you questions about your multi-device experience. The questionnaire session should take approximately 10 to 15 minutes. In the interview session, we will also show you video prototypes, each one describes a widget or a feature that users can interact with on a PC/laptop or mobile devices. After watching the video, we will ask you to discuss about how you like the design and how you imagine it can help you based on your past experience. The interview session should take 40 to 50 minutes, and will be audio recorded.
Eligibility: We are looking for participants who:
● are adults using a PC/laptop and a smartphone in their daily life
● are free of diagnosed cognitive impairments or motor impairments to their hands
● use any productivity applications (e.g. Google Doc/Sheet/Presentation, Dropbox, Microsoft OneNote, etc.) or e-commerce applications (banking apps, Amazon, etc.) on both PC/laptop and smartphones. For example, using Google Doc via a web browser on the laptop, and using the Android native app for Google Doc on the smartphone.
Location: ICICS Building, UBC
Contact Information: Jessalyn Alvina, jalvina@cs.ubc.ca, +1 236 833 9316
Reimbursement/Time: $15 (15 Canadian dollars) for participating in the study (approximately one hour).
Study End Date: No end date specified. Posted August 13, 2019.
Total Aromatic Amino Acid Requirements in Healthy Pregnant Women
Researcher: Madeleine Ennis and Dr. Rajavel Elango
Description: There will be a 1 hour preliminary assessment, then anywhere from 1 to 8 study days (the participant chooses) that are 8 hours long and involve the collection of breath, urine samples, one small blood sample, consuming a special diet and measurements of body composition.
Eligibility: Healthy women between 20 and 40 pregnant with a single child.
Location: BC Children’s Hospital
Contact Information: Madeleine Ennis, mennis@bcchr.ca, 6048752000×4607
Reimbursement/Time: $100 per completed 8 hour study day as well as a parking code or bus fare.
Study End Date: Dec 2019
Cognitive function in individuals with problem gambling: recruiting healthy volunteers with minimal or no gambling
Researcher: Brittney Russell (PhD student), Mariya Cherkasova (research associate), Luke Clark (PI)
Description: The study contains a single 3-hour test session at the Vancouver General Hospital’s Eye Care Centre (360A-2550 Willow Street). Prior to the test session, we will arrange a telephone call to ask some questions about your general health, mental health and gambling behaviour to confirm your suitability. During the test session, you will first undergo a structured clinical interview and then complete computerized tasks and questionnaires. The tasks will be accompanied by eye tracking, done non-invasively using a special apparatus with a small camera.
Eligibility: To be eligible for the study, you must: be between the ages of 35 and 65; be able to read, write and speak fluent English; not have experienced problems associated with gambling; not have history of/current neurological illness or head injury; not have a history of psychiatric hospitalization; not have any ongoing problems with mental health (e.g. depression/ anxiety) or with substance use; not have started (or changed) any medication or medication dose in the past 6 weeks.
Location: The study is conducted at the Human Vision and Eye Movement lab at the Eye Care Centre (2550 Willow St., rm.360A). Scheduling arrangements can be made with the researcher.
Contact Information: Brittney Russell, brittney.russell@psych.ubc.ca; Mariya Cherkasova, cherkaso@mail.ubc.ca
Reimbursement/Time: The study takes ~3 hours to complete. You will be compensated $30 for your time, and we will reimburse any transit and parking expenses accrued. You will also earn bonus payment on the computer tasks (up to ~ $70).
Study End Date: January, 2020
UBC Yoghurt Study
Study Title: UBC Yoghurt Study
Researcher: Larisse Melo (Graduate Student) and Dr. Yvonne Lamers (PI)
Description: Our researchers have developed a NOVEL YOGHURT enriched with VITAMIN B12 and are now conducting a study to assess the effect of its consumption on the vitamin B12 status of healthy, older adults. Help us learn more about the efficacy of this novel product! Participants will be asked to consume one serving of fortified or unfortified yoghurt (150g each) every day for 8 weeks, attend 4 clinic visits (35-45min each) to complete surveys and provide blood samples and fill out 3-day food records within the 8-week period.
Eligibility: Healthy, non-smoking, men and women between 50-75 years of age who have not taken high-dose vitamin B12 supplements (≥1,000mcg or ug) in the past month, and who are NOT taking any of the following prescriptions or over-the-counter medications: metformin, anti-cancer treatment, antibiotics, proton pump inhibitors, antacids, and chloramphenicol.
Location: Participants may complete study visits at the most convenient site: at the UBC Food, Nutrition, and Health Building (2205 E Mall, Vancouver) OR at BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute (938 W 28th Ave, Vancouver, BC).
Contact Information: Please contact Ricky Tsang at yoghurt.study@ubc.ca or by telephone at 604-822-1250.
Reimbursement/Time: Participants will receive $20 Gift Cards for each study visit (1 screening visit + 3 study visits in total). Yoghurts provided free of cost.
Study End Date: Recruitment ends on August 7th, 2019
Away We Grow! Growing Up Milk Toddler Nutrition Development Study
Researcher: Dr. Yvonne Lamers (PI) and Dr. Tim Oberlander (Co-PI)
Description: The objective of this study is to determine whether the type of milk a child drinks impacts growth, behavior and development. The child will be followed over six months of time. For more information visit: www.tiny.cc/ubcnutritionawg
Eligibility: Healthy children nearing 18 months-of-age, born at 37 week gestation as a singleton birth (i.e. not a twin, triplet) with a birthweight between 2500-4500g (5.5-10lbs) and able to complete 5 study visits within 6 months (3 study visits at UBC, BC Children’s Hospital or Surrey office & 2 at a convenient community location).
Location: Participants may complete study visits at the site most convenient: at BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, 4480 Oak St, Vancouver, BC, UBC OR the Nutrition Research Offices at 73rd & King George, Surrey.
Contact Information: If Please contact Chloe Chong at nutrition.research@bcchr.ca or by telephone at 604-875-2345 ext. 4896 or complete and send us the Eligibility Screening Questionnaire at: www.tiny.cc/ubcnutritionawg
Reimbursement/Time: Participants will receive Gift Cards for the time to complete assessments / study visits and will be reimbursed for parking/public transit.
Study End Date: December 2020.
Adapt and Avoid
Study Title: Adapt and Avoid
Researcher: Ryan Tomm, Dr. Rebecca Todd
Description: For this study you will play a computer game in which you must adapt to avoid negative situations. To complete the computer game, you will have to respond to auditory and visual stimuli. NOTE: Sometimes you may be exposed to aversive stimuli (i.e., mild shock) when you respond incorrectly in the computer game. Additionally, you will be asked to fill out a questionnaire.
Eligibility: Must have normal or corrected to normal vision (eg. Wear glasses or contacts). Participants must be between 18-35 years old.
Location: Room 2215 Kenny Building, 2136 West Mall
Contact Information: mclab@psych.ubc.ca
Reimbursement/Time: $20 an hour and study will take two hours
Study End Date: No end date specified. Posted July 30, 2019.
Emotional Learning and Adaptation – EEG Study
Researcher: Ryan Tomm, Dr. Rebecca Todd
Description: This study will explore your performance to different objects and emotional stimuli during a computer game. While you complete the task, we will be recording electroencephalogram (EEG) waves from electrodes attached to the scalp to monitor your brain activity. You will also be asked to fill out some questionnaires and the entire study should take about two hours.
Eligibility: Must have normal or corrected to normal vision (eg. Wear glasses or contacts). Participants must be between 18-35 years old.
Location: Room 2215 Kenny Building, 2136 West Mall
Contact Information: mclab@psych.ubc.ca
Reimbursement/Time: $10 an hour and study will take two hours
Study End Date: No end date specified. Posted July 30, 2019.
Is your time well spent?
Researcher: Hayley Guillou, Kevin Chow, Dr. Joanna McGrenere, Dr. Thomas Fritz
Description: There will be three surveys (at the beginning, 2 weeks later, and 4 weeks later) asking about satisfaction with the way your time is spent at work. Some participants will be asked to download and use an Android app which will provide hourly notifications during primary working hours for experience sampling and allow the user to see a visualization of their responses. After 4 weeks, participants will be asked to participate in a 5-15 minute interview over Skype.
Eligibility: Full-time research-based grad students, any department, interested in improving the way they spend their time at work (take eligibility study at tinyurl.com/signup4it)
Location: Online
Contact Information: Take the eligibility survey at tinyurl.com/signup4it. Send questions to guillouh@cs.ubc.ca
Reimbursement/Time: $50 Amazon gift card for 1-4 hours total time over 4 weeks.
Study End Date: Recruiting until August 7th, 2019.
The Hearing Brain
Researchers: Dr. Todd S. Woodward, Dr. Mahesh Menon, R.Psych, and Dr. Christine Tipper
Description: This sub-study is part of a larger research project that seeks to develop transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS) as a research and therapy tool. tACS is a non-invasive brain stimulation technique in which a very weak electrical current is applied to the scalp in order to increase the likelihood of neural firing in targeted brain regions. This safe, painless, non-invasive brain stimulation technology holds great promise as a therapeutic application for brain health conditions. Participation as a control subject in this study will aid the study investigators in developing protocols to influence network-level brain function in a precisely targeted manner and test specific hypotheses about the role of different brain networks in specific aspects of cognition and behaviour
“The Hearing Brain” investigates whether transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS) can mimic and/or influence the brain activity that occurs when listening to simple sounds.
Eligibility: To participate you must be a fluent English speaker aged 19-60, and must not have a history of migraines, neurological problems, or seizure
Location: The experiment will be conducted in the Cognitive Neuroscience of Schizophrenia Laboratoy (Detwiller Pavilion, UBC Hospital)
Contact Information: Contact Jessica at brain.dynamics@ubc.ca
Reimbursement/Time: All together, it takes about 1.5 hours to complete this paid study.
Study End Date: No end date specified. Posted July 23, 2019.
UBC Teen Health and Emotions Study
Researcher: Bita Zareian, Dr. Christine Anderl, & Dr. Frances Chen (PI)
Description: UBC’s Social Health Lab is exploring how hormones shape teenagers’ emotions over time. Teenagers experience a range of moods and emotions, thanks to a sharp increase in hormones. What’s not known is the role that these hormones have on the maturing teenage brain.
Eligibility: Young women between 13-15 and one of their parents or guardians. Teens and parents must be fluent in English and have no definite plans to move in the next 3 years.
Location: UBC Douglas Kenny Building and at home.
Contact Information: Email us at teenstudy@psych.ubc.ca. Learn more at bit.ly/UBCTeenStudy.
Reimbursement/Time: This study includes six lab sessions across 3 years. In total, this study takes about 12 hours to complete. Participating families will receive up to $180 ($30 for each completed lab session).
Study End Date: No end date specified. Posted July 9, 2019.
Neurochemical Influences on Cognitive Functions Dependent on Prefrontal Cortex
Researcher: Dr. Adele Diamond (PI)
Description: We are examining whether methylphenidate (MPH; known commercially as Ritalin©) might affect reasoning, attention, and memory differently in men and women. If eligible, participants will be asked to visit the lab three times. The first visit is an information session where you are asked to provide a saliva sample, and the second and third visits are testing sessions, scheduled one month apart. The testing sessions will involve taking either a low dose of MPH or a placebo (Vitamin C), and then completing 4 short cognitive tasks on a computer.
Eligibility: You are eligible if you meet the following requirements:
1) 20-35 years of age
2) Proficient to fluent in English
3) Can execute a manual response such as pressing a button
4) Have a regular monthly menstrual period (applies to females only)
5) No history of neurological and psychiatric disorders, including brain injury
6) Not taking ANY medication that influences circulating gonadal hormone levels (e.g. testosterone, oral hormonal contraceptives, Depo-Provera [birth control drug injection])
7) Not taking ANY medication that might affect cognition
Location: All the sessions will take place at the Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience Lab, UBC, Detwiller Pavilion, 2255 Westbrook Mall. Our lab is in the building next to the UBC Hospital.
Contact Information: Please email mphstudy@devcogneuro.com if you are interested in participating.
Reimbursement/Time: Participants will receive a total of $40 for their time: $5 for coming to the information session (approx. 30 minutes); $15 for completing the first testing session (approx. 1hr); and $20 for completing the second testing session (approx. 1hr).
Study End Date: No end date specified. Posted July 9, 2019.
Face Recognition Research Study
Researcher: Todd Kamensek (graduate student) and Dr. Ipek Oruc (PI)
Description: You are invited to participate in a study evaluating one’s daily exposure to faces for factors such as size, gender, viewing distance, and angle. The study involves the use of a head-mounted camera that will take photographs at regular intervals in first-person view over the course of 1 day for 8-10 hours. After wearing the glasses for a day, participants will complete a few lab based assessments of visuo-spatial ability and face recognition.
Eligibility: Participants must be at least 18 years old with normal or corrected-to-normal vision.
Location: Blusson Spinal Cord Center, 818 W 10th Ave, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1M9 Contact Information: Please contact Todd Kamensek at todd.kamensek@ubc.ca if you are interested in participating.
Reimbursement/Time: Participants will receive $20 compensation for wearing the head-mounted camera for one day, plus $10 per hour for additional testing at the lab (1 hour).
Study End Date: Posted June 25, 2019. No end date specified.
Preliminary Bolus Study
Researcher: Dr. Yvonne Lamers (PI) and Mikaela Stewart (RA)
Description: We are investigating how methionine is used in our bodies. Following a successful health screening visit, we require 6 hours of your time in a single visit at the Women’s Health Research Institute (Oak Street Campus). During this time, participants will be asked to provide blood and breath samples, as well as information on dietary intake and B-vitamin status.
Eligibility: Healthy women aged 20-35 who:
– Have not been taking vitamin, amino acid or protein supplements regularly (more than once a week)
– Do not chronically consume a high protein diet (e.g. Atkins)
– Have no chronic medical conditions (e.g. diabetes, cancer, asthma, gastrointestinal surgery…)
– Are not pregnant or breastfeeding
– Do not smoke, use recreational drugs or drink more than 7 alcohol beverages per week
– Do not take long-term prescription medication (e.g. hormonal contraceptives, antidepressants…)
– Have not donated blood in the past 3 months prior to study start
Location: BC Women’s Health Research Institute: 4500 Oak Street, Vancouver
Contact Information: Please contact Mikaela Stewart at folate.study@ubc.ca
Reimbursement/Time: Participants will receive up to $75 in gift cards for successful completion ($25 for screening visit ~1 hr, $50 for main study day ~6 hrs).
Study End Date: No end date specified. Posted June 25 2019.
The Dynamic Reciprocal Electroencephalography and Modulation (DREAM) study
Effect of Visual Noise and Blur on Facial Recognition
Practice Scheduling and Motor Learning of Keystroke Patterns
Researcher: Georgia Grieve (RA) and Dr. Nicola Hodges (PI)
Description: Participants will practice various keystroke patterns with the goal of learning the timing of each pattern as accurately as possible.
Eligibility: In order to participate in this study you must meet all of the following requirements: 1) female, 2) age 18-35, 3) right-hand dominant, 4) normal vision or wear corrective lenses, 5) no injury to the right hand, 6) no known neurological disorders, 7) no previous participation in a study involving keystroke patterns conducted by the School of Kinesiology’s Motor Skills Lab (if in doubt, please check with researcher)
Location: Room 4612 in the D. H. Copp Building (2146 Health Sciences Mall)
Contact Information: Please contact Georgia at georgia.grieve@alumni.ubc.ca. Note: Please include “Keypress Study” in the subject line of your email.
Reimbursement/Time: This study will take place across 2 consecutive days. Day 1 will take ~75 min and Day 2 will take ~30 min. Participants will be paid $12.65/hr (total time commitment ~105 min).
Effects of transcranial electrical stimulation on perception and cognition
Researcher: Dr. Lawrence Ward (PI)
Description: This experiment will explore how people process visual stimuli. It will involve viewing and responding to visual stimuli presented on a computer screen. You will receive weak electrical stimulation on the scalp.
Eligibility: Must be 18-35 years old
Location: The experiment will be conducted in the Laboratory of Psychophysics and Cognitive Neuroscience (Kenny Building, Room 3014) Contact Information: Email Naima Mansuri at wardlab (at) psych.ubc.ca to organize a time to participate.
Reimbursement/Time: Participants will receive $10.00 for each hour of participation. The study will take approximately 1-2 hours to complete on each of two separate occasions.
Study End Date: No end date specified. Posted May 28, 2019.
Campus Student Life Mobile App Assessment
Principal Investigator: Dr. Hasan Cavusoglu
Co-Investigator: Dr. Ronald Cenfetelli, Amir Fard Bahreini
Description: The purpose of this research is to assess the functionalities (i.e. notification, design, and privacy settings), design, and your knowledge related to these topics of a new mobile app which aims to serve a navigation tool for students on campus.
• Download, install and set up an account of a mobile app called “Campus Student Life” on your device (appx. 5 minutes); the app can be used for navigation on UBC campus
• Browse within the app (5 minutes per day), read messages sent to you, and perform tasks related to those messages
• Answer an online questionnaire hosted on Qualtrics on day three (appx. 25 min total)
• At the end of the study, you’ll have the option to delete or keep the app as long as it is available in the app store.
Eligibility: individuals 18 years or older who have not gone through any information security training in school/work. Additionally, you must own an android or IOS smartphone or tablet.
Location: Participant’s home; Online and on participants’ mobile device
Contact Information: amir.fard@sauder.ubc.ca
Reimbursement/Time: The study will take about 45 minutes over 3 days and participants will be given a CAD 15 honorarium.
Study End Date: No end date specified. Posted on May 16th, 2019.
Attentional Biases by Induced Microvalences
Study Title: Attentional Biases by Induced Microvalences
Researcher: Dr. Rebecca Todd (PI), Joey Manaligod, Max Jativa
Description: The objective of the study is to investigate attentional biases by induced microvalences. You will be asked to complete a set of questionnaires, and do computer-based tasks that will involve responding to images using the keyboard while wearing an eye tracker.
Eligibility: 18-35 years old, normal or corrected-to-normal vision, fluent in English, no history of seizures or epilepsy
Location: Room 2215, Douglas Kenny Building (2136 West Mall V6T 1Z4)
Contact Information: mclab@psych.ubc.ca (Please contact the researchers if you would like to view the consent form prior to signing up)
Reimbursement/Time: $10/hr, the study will take up to 1 hr.
Study End Date: July 2019
Golf Putting
Researcher:Jonathan Howard (RA) and Dr. Nicola Hodges (PI)
Description: Participants will practice various golf putting tasks with the goal of learning to putt as accurately as possible.
Eligibility: In order to participate in this study you must meet all of the following requirements: 1) age 18-35, 2) right-hand dominant, 3) normal vision or wear corrective lenses, 4) no injury to the right hand, 5) no known neurological disorders, 6) no/little experience playing golf or golf putting (if in doubt, please check with Jonathan)
Location:Room 300 in the War Memorial Gym (6081 University Blvd)
Contact Information: Please contact Jonathan atubc.motor.skills.laboratory (at) gmail.com Note: Please include “ATTN: Jonathan” in the subject line of your email
Reimbursement/Time: This study will take place across 2 days in a row. Day 1 will take ~1-1.5 hrs and Day 2 will take ~30-45 min. Participants will be paid $12.65/hr (total time commitment ~1.5-2.25 hrs).
Study End Date: May 31, 2020
Listening to sentences – EEG Study
Researcher: Naima Mansuri, Principal Investigator: Dr. Lawrence Ward
Description: This study will involve listening to a series of spoken English sentences from an audio recording played through insert earphones. Our experiments require making recordings of brain activity during these tasks using EEG, which involves several sensors placed on your scalp, a couple on each temple, and one above and below the right eye.
Eligibility: Fluent in English. No history of neurological disorders.
Location: The experiment will be conducted in the Laboratory of Psychophysics and Cognitive Neuroscience (Kenny Building, Room 3014).
Contact Information: Email Naima at wardlab@psych.ubc.ca to organize a time to participate.
Reimbursement/Time: Participants will receive $10.00 for each hour of participation. The study will take about 2-3 hours to complete.
Study End Date: No end date. Posted November 20, 2018.
Self and Social Perception – Part 3
Researcher: Bri Glazier, Lynn Alden (PI), Sarah Lillemo (Study coordinator)
Description: UBC Psychology is looking for adults with social anxiety to participate in a study on UBC campus. If you are interested, we will conduct a brief phone interview to assess your eligibility. If you are eligible, you will be invited into the lab for two sessions, scheduled one week apart. You will also complete one online questionnaire. In the lab, you may be asked to make a short statement to a video camera. In both sessions you will be asked to fill out questionnaires about your mood and your perception of yourself. At the end of the second session, you will participate in a clinical interview.
Eligibility: Adults age 18-65 with high social anxiety AND no depression, schizophrenia, psychosis, or current drug use.
Location: Kenny building, UBC campus, between the hours of 9am and 5pm.
Contact Information: Email us at aldenlab@psych.ubc.ca or call 604-822-5047. Please reference the study “Self and Social Perception” and let us know some times that we can contact you on the phone for 10-15 minutes.
Reimbursement/Time: $40 for 2 hours of your time. The first session will take 30 minutes and the second session will take 60 minutes. The online questionnaire takes approximately 5 minutes.
Study End Date: Study posted January 8, 2019. No end date specified.
UBC Cognition Study
Researcher: Dr. Sheila Woody (PI)
Description: Are you BURIED IN TREASURES? You are not alone. Severe clutter or hoarding affects 1 in 20 people.
Participation in this study takes approximately 4 hours and is done here at UBC. If you decide to participate, you will attend an assessment that will involve and interview and cognitive testing. We will interview you about your personal feelings and experiences, as well as ask questions about your home. We will also do some cognitive testing in which you will be asked to answer questions, look at pictures, and solve problems with blocks or other physical objects. There will also be some computerized tasks and questionnaires.
Eligibility: Fluent English speakers ages 19+. Participants must first complete a phone eligibility interview with a research assistant which will take about 15-25 minutes of your time. You must not have participated in the UBC Cognition Study previously.
Location: Douglas Kenny Psychology Building, 2136 West Mall, UBC
Contact Information: cognitionstudy@psych.ubc.ca or 604-822-8025
Reimbursement/Time: The study will take about 4 hours and participants will be given a $40 honorarium.
Study End Date: No end date specified. Posted March 13, 2019.
Impact of dart-throwing practice on self-confidence and skill learning
Researcher: Teresa Chang (RA), and Dr. Nicola Hodges (PI)
Description:
Participants are needed for UBC study to investigate learning of a dart-throwing task. We examine how self-confidence can be affected by practice. Physiological measures of your heart rate and skin conductance levels will be measured during the experiment. None of these measures are invasive. You will wear a wrist strap, finger strap and have two disposable electrodes attached to your left palm. Reflective stickers would also be attached to your right shoulder, elbow, wrist and finger (hence wear a sleeveless shirt if possible!). Videos of your arm movement during dart throwing will also be recorded for analysis purposes. These video recordings will be accessed only by the experimenters and will be saved in a password-protected computer, locked in the laboratory.
Eligibility:
Due to the nature and aims of this study, we are only recruiting participants who:
1) Right-handed females only
2) Age: 19-50 or 18-50 (for UBC students)
3) Have perfect or corrected vision
4) No injuries to upper limbs or any known neurological disorder where overall movement will be adversely affected and atypical of the general population
5) Good written and verbal English proficiency (there will be questions and plenty of instructions)
6) Have *not* played darts or have minimal experience in dart throwing (**please check with Teresa via email)
7) NOT competitive athletes in a sport involving throwing accuracy with the upper limbs (e.g. basketball, softball; **check with Teresa if in doubt).
Location: 6081 University Boulevard (War Memorial Gym in Room 300 located on 3rd floor near bleachers) (http://www.maps.ubc.ca/PROD/index_detail.php?locat1=428)
Contact Information: Please contact Teresa at ubc.motor.skills.laboratory@gmail.com Note: Please include “ATTN: Teresa” in the subject line of your email.
Reimbursement/Time: This study will take place across 2 consecutive days. Day 1 will take ~1.5 hrs and Day 2 will take ~30 min. Participants will be paid $12.65/hr (total time commitment ~2 hrs).
Study End Date: Posted March 5, 2019. No end date specified.
Exposure History Impact on Identification of Faces and Objects
Researcher: Morteza Mousavi(graduate student) and Dr. Ipek Oruc (PI)
Description: We are interested in the effect of exposure to different faces on face and age recognition. Participants will be involved in a face recognition task and an age recognition task.
Eligibility: You must be between the ages 18 and 45. You must have normal, or corrected- to-normal (glasses/contacts) vision.
Location: Our lab is located in the ICORD Centre of Vancouver General Hospital (818 West 10th Ave).
Contact Information: Please contact mousavi7@mail.ubc.ca to participate.
Reimbursement/Time: This study takes roughly 2 hours to complete and the compensation is $10/hour.
Study End Date: April 2019
Seeking Volunteers for a Study of Exercise and Brain Health
Researcher: Dr. Donna Lang, Melissa Woodward, Peter Senften
Description: Researchers from the University of British Columbia and Centre for Complex Disorders are interested in measuring the effects of exercise on brain health and function. We are seeking volunteers who would like to participate in a 12-week exercise program.
What the research involves: This is a 12-week study in which you will receive a full health and fitness assessment before and after the completion of the exercise program. Certified fitness instructors will individually tailor the exercise program to your fitness level. To explore brain function, you will have an opportunity to take part in a number of assessments of your memory and reaction speed.
Eligibility: We are looking for healthy volunteers: If you are between the ages of 16 and 45, with no university education and are physically able to participate in moderate exercise, we invite you to join our study.
Location: 2255 Wesbrookmall, Vancouver, BC (Detwiller Pavilion)
Contact information: brain.imaging@ubc.ca, 604-875-2000 x4731
Reimbursement/time: This is a 12-week study in which participants will exercise 3 times a week at UBC along with clinical assessments and two MRI scans. Remuneration is $20.00 per MRI scan, $10.00 per clinical assessment, and $5.00 per exercise session
Study End Date: April, 2019.
Study of Online Shared Accounts
Researcher: Borke Obada-Obieh, Yue Huang, and Prof. Konstantin Beznosov
Description: Participant will be involved in an interview session with UBC researchers. Participant will be interviewed either in person or over a video call.
Eligibility: In the last 12 months, participants must have stopped using an online account (e.g., Netflix, Amazon, online bank account), shared with either their romantic partner, parent, or child. OR participants are attempting to stop using a shared online account.
Location: At the participants’ preferred location or over a Skype video call.
Contact Information: Potential participants can take the eligibility survey using this link https://bit.ly/2S17lPS or send an email to Borke Obada-Obieh via borke@ece.ubc.ca
Reimbursement/Time: Participants will be compensated with $20 (for in-person interviews) or $20 Amazon Gift Card (for video interviews)/ Interviews will take about 1 hour.
Study End Date: Study posted January 4. No end date.
Experiment on face memory
Researcher: Manuela Malaspina, Andrea Albonico and Jason Barton (PI)
Description: This study aims at investigating the role of eye-movements in face memory. The study consists of a behavioural experiment on a computer: participants will be asked to memorize a face and later to recognize it among other faces. Eye-movements will be recorded with a small video-camera during the experiment.
Eligibility: Caucasian young adults between 20-40 years of age, with normal or corrected-to-normal vision, no neurological or psychiatric history and no visual complaints.
Location: The experiment will take place at the HVEM lab c/o the Eye Care Centre (2550 Willow Street ).
Contact Information: If you are interested in participating in the study, please email Manuela Malaspina for more information at manu.malaspina(at)gmail.com.
Reimbursement/Time: Participants will receive $15 for their participation. The study will approximately take about 1 hour to complete.
Start and End Date: no end date specified. Posted on December 5, 2018.
Aging and vision with eye-tracking
Researcher: Doris Chow (Post-doc) and Miriam Spering (PI)
Description: This study is about motion sensitivity and eye movements. You will look at visual stimuli presented on a monitor while your eye movements are being recorded with a video camera. You will also be asked to make manual responses to the specific features of the stimulus. Some of these judgments will be easy and other more difficult. Basic vision tests will also be performed.
Eligibility: 19-45 or 65-85 years old; normal or corrected-to-normal visual acuity (at least 20/40); no history of neurological, psychiatric or eye diseases (such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, or ‘lazy eye’)
Location: VGH, 818 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver
Contact Information: please email doris.hm.chow@ubc.ca for inquiries and scheduling
Reimbursement/Time: $15 at the completion of the study (60-75mins including breaks, one visit); if you do not fulfill the visual acuity requirement of the study such that we cannot proceed with the experiment, you will be compensated for $5 for your time.
Study End Date: No end date. Posted November 20, 2018
Cantonese-English Bilingual Speech Database
Researchers: Khia Johnson (PhD student), Rachel Soo (PhD student), and Dr. Molly Babel (PI)
Description: Do you speak Cantonese and English? You can be part of a bilingual speech database. We’re studying what makes bilingual speech unique—specifically, how languages influence one another. The study involves two 30-minute conversational interviews on everyday topics like culture, hobbies, school, community issues, or work. What’s the catch? One interview will be conducted (mostly) in Cantonese, and the other (mostly) in English. Both interviews will be recorded with head-mounted microphones and included in an Open Access database, so researchers and developers around the world can play with and learn from your speech.
Eligibility: Age 19-35; Fluent in both Cantonese and English; No known speech, language, or hearing disorders
Location: Stores Road Annex (6368 Stores Road, Vancouver, BC)
Contact Information: Khia Johnson, khia.johnson@ubc.ca
Reimbursement/Time: 1.5 hours, $15
BREB Approval Code: H18-02017
Study End Date: August 19, 2019
Are you and your partner living with stroke?
Description: The study tries to understand health after stroke. Couples take part in two interview sessions and, for 14 days, complete questionnaires on a tablet, take pictures of their food, and wear physical activity monitors. Each person provides a blood sample.
Eligibility: Couples, with at least one partner having had a stroke.
Contact Information: Email: pulse@psych.ubc.ca or Phone: 604-822-3549
Reimbursement/Time: Volunteers receive one tablet per couple or $100 each, a customized health report, and a free technology workshop.
Effects of low-dose versus normal-dose Psychostimulants on Executive Functions in Individuals with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Researcher: Daphne Ling, Prof. Adele Diamond
Description: We are comparing executive functions (EFs; self-control, problem-solving, mentally manipulating information) in individuals diagnosed with ADHD when on a lower-dose psychostimulant (half their current dose) versus their current normal-dose psychostimulant (their current dose). Participants will be asked to visit the lab twice. In one of the sessions, participants will take their current psychostimulant dose; on another, they will take 1/2 that dose. The order of the dose is randomised. Our lab works with a pharmacy to make the drugs (at no cost to the participant) and only the pharmacy will know who is taking what when. We are predicting that while higher doses might help with behaviour (e.g., hyperactivity), cognitive skills might be compromised, leading to worse performance in school, work, and life.
Eligibility: 6-45 years. Has ADHD-Combined or ADHD-Inattentive. On psychostimulants prescribed by a medical doctor for ADHD. All pyschostimulants are eligible, except Concerta.
Location: UBC, Detwiller Pavilion, 2255 Westbrook Mall. Our lab is next to UBC Hospital.
Contact Information: Email Daphne Ling at devcogneuro@gmail.com or call 604-827-3074.
Study End Date: Posted September 18. No end date specified.
Golf Putting
Researcher:Jonathan Howard (RA) and Dr. Nicola Hodges (PI)
Description: Participants will practice various golf putting tasks with the goal of learning to putt as accurately as possible.
Eligibility: In order to participate in this study you must meet all of the following requirements: 1) age18-35, 2) right-hand dominant, 3) normal vision or wear corrective lenses, 4) no injury to the right hand, 5) no known neurological disorders, 6) no/little experience playing golf or golf putting (if in doubt, please check with Jonathan)
Location:Room 300 in the War Memorial Gym (6081 University Blvd)
Contact Information:Please contact Jonathan atubc.motor.skills.laboratory@gmail.comNote: Please include “ATTN: Jonathan” in the subject line of your email
Reimbursement/Time:This study will take place across 2 days in a row. Day 1 will take ~1-1.5 hrs and Day 2 will take ~30-45 min. Participants will be paid $12.65/hr (total time commitment ~1.5-2.25 hrs).
Study End Date: April 30, 2019.
Do you self-identify as asexual or heterosexual?
Researcher: Dr. Lori Brotto
Description: We are investigating how sexual identity is related to viewing patterns of erotic and neutral images. Your participation will involve a 10-minute telephone interview, completion of online questionnaires assessing your sexuality, and one in-lab session to measure your visual attention to erotic and neutral images.
Eligibility: Men and women between 19-45 years of age who self-identify as asexual or heterosexual, have normal or corrected-to-normal vision, do not have eye diseases (e.g., macular degeneration, glaucoma), are not colour blind, are not left-handed, and are able to read, write, and speak English.
Location: 2775 Laurel Street (Diamond Health Care Centre near VGH)
Contact Information: Please contact Sonia at smilani@psych.ubc.ca
Reimbursement/Time: Total time commitment for participation is 1 hour. Participants will be compensated $25.
Study End Date: Posted August 27, 2018. No end date.
Exposure History Impact on Identification of Faces and Objects
Researcher: Morteza Mousavi(graduate student) and Dr. Ipek Oruc (PI)
Description: We are interested in the effect of exposure to different faces on face and age recognition. Participants will be involved in a face recognition task and an age recognition task.
Eligibility: You must be between the ages 18 and 45. You must have normal, or corrected- to-normal (glasses/contacts) vision.
Location: Our lab is located in the ICORD Centre of Vancouver General Hospital (818 West 10th Ave).
Contact Information: Please contact mousavi7@mail.ubc.ca to participate.
Reimbursement/Time: This study takes roughly 2 hours to complete and pays $10/hour.
Study End Date: No end date. Posted July 30, 2018.
Transition to High School
Evaluation of the Smartphone Peer Physical Activity Counseling (SPPAC) Program on Physical Activity Among Manual Wheelchair Users with a Spinal Cord Injury: A Mixed Methods Pilot Study
Researcher: Hanna Kirsten, MOT Student, Rachel Degan, MOT Student, Krista Best, PhD, William Miller, PhD, Dr. Jamie Borisoff, PhD, and Dr. Francois Routhier, PhD, Peng
Description: This study aims to determine the influence of a Smartphone Peer Physical Activity Counseling (SPPAC) program on the level of physical activity in a group of manual wheelchair users with a spinal cord injury. The program is delivered by a peer trainer through a mobile device over 14 sessions, with each session lasting approximately 30 minutes. If you choose to participate and are eligible, you will be asked to complete three data collection time points. During the first time point, you will be asked to complete several short surveys before the program begins. The second time point will take place following the completion of the program in which you will be asked to complete the same short surveys. The third time point takes place in the form of a focus group where you will be asked to discuss your thoughts and experiences participating in the program.
Eligibility: Adults between 19-64 years of age, reside in the Lower Mainland, diagnosed with a spinal cord injury, use a manual wheelchair for mobility for one or more months and able to self propel at least 100 meters, able to communicate in English, are cognitively able to engage in the intervention, and currently do not meet physical activity guidelines (which consist of a minimum 20 minutes of moderate to vigorous aerobic activity twice per week AND strength training exercises consisting of 3 set of 8-10 repetitions for major muscle groups twice per week).
Location: Participants may participate in the intervention in the comfort of their home. Data collection sessions will however take place at either G.F. Strong Rehabilitation Centre (4255 Laurel Street, Vancouver) or International Collaboration On Repair Discoveries (ICORD; Blusson Spinal Cord Centre, 818 West 10th Ave, Vancouver). The location will be chosen based on what is most convenient for the participant.
Contact Information: Please contact the Rehab Research Lab at 604-714-4108 or graduate student researcher Rachel Degan at racheldegan@alumni.ubc.ca
Reimbursement/Time: Participants will receive an honorarium for each data collection session completed. This honorarium will be provided to cover the 12 hours of your time and any transportation costs from taking part in this study. If required, there will be a pass provided to cover cost of parking while taking part in this study.
Study End Date: Posted Feb 18, 2018. Ends August 31, 2019.
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Advertise on the List
If you have paid studies you want listed on the mailing list/listserv, please send an email to Drake at drake.levere@psych.ubc.ca with the following information. Please send your listing plain-text in an email (no attachments) and put “Paid study posting” in the email subject to ensure your email does not get lost.
Study Title: A unique title used to identify your study
Researcher: The grad student(s) and the primary investigator
Description: A few sentences or a short paragraph about what participants will do. You can use the Human Subjects Pool style as a guide.
Eligibility: Any restrictions, such as if you only want students, psych majors, a certain age, etc.
Location: Where the participant will take part in the study (e.g., Kenny building, UBC campus, Vancouver General Hospital, online). Please note that not all readers of the list are UBC students, and so if your location is a building on campus, we recommend you include a street address so participants can look up the location of the building.
Contact Information: A name, email address/phone number so participants can organize a time to participate
Reimbursement/Time: What participants will be paid and how long will the study take
Study End Date: When the study will be removed from the list. Studies labelled ongoing will remain on the list for one year or until you contact Drake to remove them.
Please note: This list is a posting service only. All studies affiliated with UBC involving human participants are required to have a research ethics certificate before using this service and the use of this site needs to be specifically outlined in the research ethics application. It is the responsibility of the researcher to ensure proper ethics guidelines are being followed in using this list as an advertising space. For information on UBC Research Ethics, consult the Office of Research Ethics website. This list is hosted online by, but not affiliated with, the Psychology Graduate Student Council.