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
We welcome both the general public and students, and please check the eligibility requirements for each study.
Last updated: September 7, 2023
Simulated Online Interview (online)
Researcher: Bita Zareian (grad student), Dr. Frances Chen (PI)
Description: This study examines examining the effects of hormones – including the effects of CURRENT or PAST hormonal contraceptive use – on our responses during social situations like mock job interviews. Participants will first be asked to complete a 5-10 minute survey that will assess their eligibility. If deemed eligible, participants will be invited to a Zoom session during which they will complete a mock job interview, answer some questionnaires, and provide saliva samples (collection tubes will be sent and returned via mail).
Eligibility: Anyone between the ages of 19-27 may be eligible for this study.
Location: Online (Zoom)
Contact Information: Interested individuals should first complete the brief eligibility survey here: https://ubc.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5AYS7XIvtR3aX0G. Any questions can be directed to socialhealthlab@psych.ubc.ca.
Reimbursement/Time: The study will take approximately 3 hours to complete, and you will be reimbursed $30 CAD for your time.
Study End Date: Ongoing
Clairvoyant – Psilocybin Assisted Psychotherapy for Alcohol Use Disorder (In-person)
Study Title: Clairvoyant – Psilocybin Assisted Psychotherapy for Alcohol Use Disorder (In-person)
Eligibility: Participants must meet the following criteria in order to participate. Additional criteria may apply.
- Individuals between 19 and 70 years of age.
- Generally healthy with no unstable health conditions.
- Have alcohol dependence and/or use alcohol almost daily and in large amounts.
Location: UBC Hospital – Detwiller Pavilion (2255 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC)
Study end date: March, 31st, 2024
The vocational experience of autistic adults: A self-deterministic perspective (Online Study)
Researcher: Talia Vacca, Dr. Charles Chen (PI)
Description: We are conducting a research study on vocational experiences in autism. The purpose of this study is to better understand the career experiences of individuals with a confirmed autism diagnosis. We are looking to conduct virtual interviews with a total of 15 individuals who would like to share their work experience, with the ultimate goal of understanding how their diagnosis, motivations and meaning, influence their career outcomes and work experience.
Eligibility:
- Between 18 and 25 years of age
- Have a confirmed diagnosis from a psychiatrist or psychologist
- Have worked for a minimum of 2 consecutive months within the last 5 years
- Fluent in English, as interviews will be conducted in English
Location: Online (Microsoft Teams)
Contact Information: Individuals who are interested in participating can contact the researcher by email at vocationinautism@gmail.com to learn more about the study.
Reimbursement/Time: The interview will last approximately 1 hour. Participants will receive $10 for their time.
Study End Date: Ongoing.
Audiological Behavioural Thresholds to Brief-Tone and Chirp Stimuli in Normal Hearing Adults
Researcher: Sarah MacEwan, M.Sc. Candidate; Dr. Tony Herdman
Description: In this study, we are investigating the thresholds at which normal-hearing adults respond to certain sound stimuli. You will first be asked to fill out a short demographics questionnaire and complete a short hearing screening to verify your eligibility to participate in the study. After completing our brief questionnaires, you will listen to certain specialized sounds in a sound booth and indicate when you hear these sounds by pressing a button.
Eligibility: Adults aged 18 – 65 are welcome to participate in our study. We are looking for participants with no previously diagnosed hearing loss, no diagnosed neurological difference or disorder such as Autism Spectrum Disorder, Epilepsy, or ADHD, and no diagnosed neuromuscular disorders that impacts reaction time. We ask that participants do not take any medication or substance that could impact their performance during the experiment, such as cannabis or narcotics prior to participation.
Location: P. A. Woodward Instructional Resources Centre (IRC). 2194 Health Sciences Mall, Audiology Research Unit, Room B28. Vancouver, BC. V6T 2A1.
Follow signs for Audiology Research Unit: BRANE Lab. Ring doorbell to be let into waiting room.
Contact Information: Sarah: sarahm07@student.ubc.ca
Reimbursement/Time: Gift card valued at $20 for participation. Study length is 1.5 – 2 hours.
Study End Date: Ongoing.
Action Observation in Golf Putting
Researcher: Carrie Peters, Dr. Nicola Hodges (PI)
Description: Participants are needed for a UBC study to investigate how watching someone else perform can help us learn and/or alert us to errors. We are interested in how watching actions of others impacts on processes related to performance and learning. In this research study, you will be asked to practice a golf putting action and will also watch videos of someone else also doing this task (ethics, H23-01790). This study is being run in the Motor Skills Lab in the School of Kinesiology by principal investigator Dr. Nicola Hodges.
Eligibility: A resume is not required to partake in the study, we simply ask that participants meet all the qualifications listed. We are looking for individuals who are/have: 1) Between ages 18-60 years old, 2) Right-hand dominant for putting, 3) Experienced golfers (golfed ≥ 10 times in the past 5 years) OR participants with no past golf experience (golfed ≤ 5 times in the past 5 years), 4) Normal or corrected-to-normal vision, 5) No known physical or neurological disorders or injuries that impede a putting action, 6) Must be able to understand and speak English
Location: Room 300, War Memorial Gym (6081 University Blvd; http://www.maps.ubc.ca/PROD/index_detail.php?locat1=428).
Contact Information: If you meet these qualifications, please email kin.msl@ubc.ca and include “Golf observation” in the subject line. In your email, please include a UBC email address (if available), a phone number, and your availability over the next 2 weeks.
Reimbursement/Time: It is anticipated that the study will take approximately 120-150 minutes. Experienced golfers will only complete the first testing session and participants without golf experience will be asked to return the next day to complete a follow-up testing session that will take ~15 minutes to complete. An honorarium at the rate of $15/hour will be provided upon completion of the study.
Study End Date: Ongoing.
Exploring multi-modal expression of programming intent
(In-person)
Researcher: Anika Sayara, Dongwook Yoon (PI)
Description: During the study, you will watch a series of videos in
Virtual Reality (VR) showcasing various game logics and interactions.
Following each video, you will be immersed in a virtual environment
resembling the scenarios depicted in the videos, complete with 3D
models. Your task will be to instruct an AI to code the same game logics
and interactions demonstrated in the videos. This process is similar to
interacting with ChatGPT, but in a VR setting and unlike ChatGPT that
only takes text as input, the AI you will be interacting with is capable
of understanding all natural input such as voice, hand, head movement,
etc. Afterwards, you will participate in a brief interview session where
you will be asked to share your thoughts and experiences regarding the
activities you performed during the study. The entire study will be
completed in a single session of 60 minutes.
Eligibility:
● Be of age 19 years or older
● able-bodied with sound vision and hearing capabilities to use the VR
headset
● Have actively engaged in coding VR experiences [optional]
Location: Room 306A, Department of Computer Science (2366 Main Mall
#201, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4)
Contact Information: If you are interested in participating, please fill
out the survey here: bit.ly/screener_survey
Any queries should be directed to Anika Sayara at sayanika@cs.ubc.ca
Reimbursement/Time: Participants with VR programming experience will
receive $100 and those without will receive $30 as honorarium.
Study End Date: ongoing
Public Preferences for Fairness in Health Care
Researchers: Christopher Cadham (PhD student); Rafael Meza (UBC Principal Investigator); Lisa Prosser (UM Principal Investigator)
Description: This study seeks to understand what people think can be done to make the health care system more fair. We want to hear about your values when it comes to improving health in your community and across Canada. The results of this study can inform decisions on prioritizing health care spending. Participants will complete a brief background survey and be asked to participate in one virtual focus group.
The focus group will take place on Zoom (an online videoconferencing service) and will take about 60 minutes. Since the discussion is on Zoom, you can complete this study from your home. In this conversation, participants will be asked to share their thoughts on how we can make the healthcare system fairer.
Please visit our study page and click “I am interested!” if you’re interested in participating: https://UMHealthResearch.org/#studies/HUM00235890
Eligibility:
– 18 years old or older
– Resident of Canada
Location: Online (Zoom)
Contact Information: Christopher Cadham, ccadham@umich.edu; https://UMHealthResearch.org/#studies/HUM00235890
Reimbursement/Time: You will be compensated $25 for participating
Screening and consent: 5-20 minutes
Focus group: 60 minutes
Study End Date: September 10, 2023
Supporting older adults in getting remote tech support from
an acquaintance (online)
Researcher: Teerapaun Tanprasert (ttaa2021@cs.ubc.ca); Dr. Joanna
McGrenere (joanna@cs.ubc.ca)
Description: Participants sign up as a pair by completing an online
screening survey individually. If selected to participate, the younger
participant will be asked to watch several short videos in preparation
for the study. The study itself will be 1.5-2 hours and conducted on
Zoom. During the study, the younger participant will help the older
participant learn new tasks and then reflect on the learning
experiences.
Eligibility: We are looking for pairs of participants, one between 18-64
years old and one 65 years old or over, who are familiar with each
other. Both must be fluent in English and able to operate a computer
independently. The younger participant should also have some experience
providing tech help (e.g., help someone set up a new account or create a
calendar event) to acquaintances.
Location: Zoom
Contact Information: Once you’re found a partner, we ask that both you
and your partner fill out this screening survey:
https://tinyurl.com/ubc-helpcall-2. If you have other inquiries, please
email Teerapaun at ttaa2021@cs.ubc.ca.
Reimbursement/Time: 30 CAD per person for 1.5-2 hours on Zoom
Study End Date: December 2023
Study to evaluate a novel storytelling app for mental health
Researcher: Sang-Wha Sien (grad student), Joanna McGrenere (Primary Investigator)
Description: Help us evaluate a novel prototype for UBC students to share and read stories about mental health. Your participation will help us understand how this prototype could be used to help students access mental health care and information. Your participation in this study involves completing an initial interview on Zoom where we will introduce the prototype and give directions on the tasks you will need to complete.
Evaluating the prototype over a 7-day period and completing at least 4 Thought Journals (we will provide a PDF worksheet). Each Thought Journal involves reading a story and answering several questions about the contents of that story.
Completing a final interview on Zoom where we will discuss your experiences.
If you are interested in participating, please take this survey at https://ubc.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3BOklEdIddoancO. The survey should take 10 minutes to complete.
Eligibility: This study is available to anyone who meets the following criteria:
- Currently a UBC student with a valid UBC email
- 18 years old or older
- Have faced challenges with accessing mental health care and information as a student
- Interested in using mental health technologies for well-being
Location: Online
Contact Information: Sang-Wha Sien, (778) 230-7365, swsien@cs.ubc.ca
Reimbursement/Time: You will be compensated $50 at a prorated amount for participating.
Initial interview: 30 minutes
Evaluating a prototype and completing 4 Thought Journals: 7 days
Final interview: 60 minutes
Study End Date: December 31, 2023
DaNI – Daily Nature Interactions (online)
Researcher: Johanna Bock (PhD student), Dr. Lorien Nesbitt (PI)
Description: The aim of this study is to understand how people living in cities use nature in their day-to-day life to support their mental health. We are asking you as a resident of Metro Vancouver to share your experiences with us in order to learn about the diverse interests and perceptions of the many different people living in this city. For this study, we send you a survey link every night for a week with a quick survey about your day, how you are feeling and how much time you spent engaging with nature, doing different activities, and in different places.
Eligibility: Individuals between 18 and 65 years of age, living in Metro Vancouver, without physical impairments that affect their use or enjoyment of natural environments.
Location: Online survey (compatible with phone, tablet, computer). This is the link to the first survey: https://ubc.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1Sa0qiCvO62fPeK, please fill it out at the end of the day.
Contact Information: If you have any questions, contact Johanna Bock, jbock@mail.ubc.ca
Reimbursement/Time: The study will take about 40 minutes in total over seven days (Ten minutes on day one, five minutes for the following six days). All participants will be entered into a draw to win $100.
Study End Date: September 30, 2023
Disruptive Technologies and Negative Heritage: Evaluating the Social and Economic Impacts of the 3D printed Triumphal Arch of Palmyra (In-person Study)
Researcher: Dr. Lindsay Der (PI); Pamela Zamora Quesada (RA), Rachel Thibeault (RA).
Description: We are looking for Syrian citizens for a research study on Syrian cultural heritage. Eligible participants will be invited to attend in-person focus group sessions for up to two hours and/or in-person individual interviews for up to three hours (interviews may be divided into different sessions if it is convenient for participants). In the focus groups, participants will be asked their views and thoughts on cultural heritage, the impact of the Syrian civil war on cultural heritage and any work done to mitigate such destruction. In the interview, participants will be asked more in-depth questions about the 3D-printed Triumphal Arch of Palmyra, cultural heritage and cultural diplomacy.
Eligibility:
-
Adults, 19 years old or older.
-
Self-identified Syrian nationals.
-
Fluent in English and/or Arabic.
Location: Focus groups will primarily take place ace in Vancouver and Surrey. Interviews will take place in Metro Vancouver.
Contact Information: Dr. Lindsay Der, lindsay.der@ubc.ca.
Reimbursement/Time: Selected participants will be compensated $16.75 per hour.
Study End Date: Ongoing.
“Meta-Humanoid”: Robot-Mediated Telepresence Using Visual Overlays of Remote User (In-person Study)
Researchers:
Principal Investigator: Dongwook Yoon, Computer Science Department, UBC | Email: yoon@cs.ubc.ca
Co-Investigator: Amit Ghimire, Computer Science Department, UBC | Email: amitghi@cs.ubc.ca
Description: This study aims to learn about how people interact in a robot-mediated telepresence system. Participants will use a Mixed Reality (MR) simulation tool to interact with a virtual robot controlled by another participant and perform two tasks together: 1) Q&A to get to know each other and 2) Play a word-guessing game. No prior MR experience is needed.
Participants will provide feedback via a survey and an interview following the tasks.
This study will take approximately 1 hour, and participants will be compensated between $30-$50 for their time.
Eligibility:
Participants must meet all of the following criteria:
· Be at least 19 years of age.
· Have normal or corrected to normal vision.
· Have no major motor impairments.
· Understand and speak English.
Location: UBC Computer Science Building (ICICS/CS) – Room X521. Address: 2366 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4 (Maps link https://goo.gl/maps/czxoPVkbPxbatLpKA )
Contact Information: If you are interested in participating and meet the eligibility criteria, please contact Amit Ghimire via an email(amitghi@cs.ubc.ca) or Text (+12369793185). Please include “Meta-Humanoid Study Participation” as your subject or in the text. We will be in touch with further study information and scheduling.
Reimbursement/Time: Participants will be compensated between $30-$50 for 1 hour.
Study End Date: December 31, 2023.
Errors in motor learning
Researchers: Jean Louise Fabrice, Sowmya Gopalakrishnan, Dr. Matthew Scott, Dr. Nicola Hodges (PI)
Description:
We are examining the relationship between error experience, confidence in ability to perform successfully (self-efficacy) and skill learning. Participants will learn to throw darts and will be assigned to either an easy-to-difficult or a difficult-to-easy progression of practice (near or far from the dartboard to start), or they will throw to either a large or small target. Participants are required to attend two consecutive days, ~1.5 hours in total.
Eligibility:
We are looking for individuals who are/have:
- Not played darts more than once in the past 12-month period OR have not ever played more than 5 times
- Between ages 19-50 (or 18-50 for UBC students)
- Must be female
- Must be right-handed
- Normal or corrected-to-normal vision
- No existing injury to upper limbs and no known neurological disorder
- Not a current competitive athlete in basketball, softball etc. (activities involving upper limb throwing accuracy)
- Good understanding of English instructions
Location: War Memorial Gym, room 300, School of Kinesiology, UBC, 6081, University Blvd.
Contact Information: If you are interested in partaking in the study, please email Jean Fabrice at kin.msl@ubc.ca with your availability over the next 3-weeks along with a phone number and a ubc email address (if applicable). In your email please include “Darts Challenge” as the subject heading.
Reimbursement/Time: $15/hour (1.5-2 hours total)
Start and End Date: Ongoing.
Psychoeducation for Bipolar Risk (Online)
Researcher: PI: Kamyar Keramatian; Research Assistant: Heeva Chavoshi
Description: The purpose of this study is to test a novel intervention for individuals at high risk for bipolar disorder (BD) to reduce the delay in its accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment initiation. First, a screening and baseline visit is completed. After, the intervention begins, which will consist of 8 weekly group sessions, each 60 minutes in duration and will be conducted using Zoom. After each session, participants will be asked to complete a brief survey about their views on the content and process of the session and their suggestions for improvements. After the final session, four additional surveys will be completed and a focus group will be conducted to obtain feedback from participants.
Eligibility:
You may be eligible to participate in this study if you:
– are between the ages of 15 and 24 years old
– are able to understand and communicate in English
– have a family history of bipolar disorder or are having challenges with problematic mood changes
You are not eligible to participate in this study if you:
– have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder
– have significant alcohol or substance use disorder
– are currently severely depressed or actively suicidal
Location: Online study (over Zoom).
Contact Information: bd.research@ubc.ca
Reimbursement/Time: The study’s intervention consists of 60 minute weekly sessions for 8 weeks. You will receive the total of $40 for completing the screening and baseline visits, $15 for completing each psychoeducation session, and an additional $30 for participating in the post-intervention group feedback session.
Study End Date: Ongoing
Effects of transcranial electrical stimulation on perception and cognitionn
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 Psychophysics and Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory (Kenny Building, Room 3014)
Contact Information: Email Aakanksha Sahu 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 approximately 1.5 hours to complete on each of two separate occasions.
Study End Date: No end date.
An Exploration of Parents with ADHD and Their Experiences of Raising Children with ADHD (online)
Researcher: Bethany Ee (PhD Candidate) & Dr. Laurie Ford (PI)
Description:This study aims to explore and describe the lived experiences of mothers with ADHD while they raise a child with ADHD. While there is a lot of research documenting the difficulties that families with ADHD experience, we hope to explore the potential strengths that mothers with ADHD have when it comes to parenting their child with ADHD. The study will require participating in a Zoom interview (60mins) and completing four short journal entries (5-10mins).
Eligibility:Mothers with ADHD, who have a biological child with ADHD between the ages of 6 to 12 years old.
Location:online
Contact Information:BethanyE@student.ubc.ca
Reimbursement/Time:Participants will receive an honorarium in the form of a $25 Amazon gift card
Study End Date:Ongoing