Sona Information

---

SONA WEBSITE: http://ubco.sona-systems.com/

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I log into Sona?

The Sona website is http://ubco.sona-systems.com/. Your User ID is your student ID number and your Password is your last name.

2. Why is it important for me to enter an email address in "My Profile"?

This is important because if you do not provide an email address you will not receive automatic appointment reminders for signup or cancellation confirmation email messages. In addition, if for any reason the experimenter must cancel an appointment, s/he will be unable to notify you.

3. Can I change my password?

You may change your password using ‘My profile’. We recommend that you do not change your password as it may take a considerable amount of time to retrieve it & you will not have access to the system for that time period.

4. How do I sign up for a study?

Select ‘Study sign-up’ and a list of available studies will appear. Before selecting a study to participate in, ensure you meet any eligibility requirements (e.g., right-handed, English as a first language, female etc) listed. If you are eligible to participate, select the study and choose an appointment time.

5. I’ve signed up for an on-site study. Now what?

Once you’ve signed up for a study, please come to the location listed in the study description at the time which you have signed up. If you cannot find that information, then email the researcher(s) listed in the study description to help you find the right location. Please arrive for your appointment promptly, as many studies run multiple participants at once, and delays due to late arrivals may make the study impossible to conduct. Also, please remember to be polite and considerate to researchers. In many cases, they are students just like you, and they have a right to be treated appropriately.

6. What if I need to cancel my appointment?

If you need to cancel your appointment - ensure that you do so at least 3 hours prior to the experimental session in order to avoid a penalty. You may view your appointments, check to see if your credit(s) have been granted, and/or assign credits to a specific course using ‘My schedule & credits’.

7. I've missed an appointment. What are the consequences?

Failure to contact the study researcher via email with an appropriate explanation (note: appropriateness is at the discretion of the researcher) within twenty-four hours following a missed appointment will result in the assignment of a penalty. This penalty will consist of a reduction in the total number of research activity credits by the amount equal to the credits for that particular study. E.g., if it was a 1 credit study, your total eligible credits will be reduced by 1 credit.

8. Do I need to assign my credits to a course?

Once you’ve signed up for a study, please follow the link provided to you when you signed up. If you cannot find that information, then email the researcher(s) listed in the study description to help you find the right location. If the study involves a second phase (e.g., another survey in the future, an in-person interview) it will often involve you signing up for a timeslot in a seperately listed study (i.e., experiment: phase 2). This can only be achieved after the first phase is completed.

9. Do I need to assign my credits to a course?

Your registration in SONA was automatically linked to the PSYO course (e.g., PSYO 111 or 121). When you have completed an experiment, the credit will be assigned to that course automatically.

10. Where will my credits be assigned if I'm not in PSYO 111 or 121?

If you're in more than one PSYO course that offers research bonus credits, you may want to re-assign some/all of those credits. You can do this using “My Schedule and Credits”. It is your responsibility to ensure that the credit is assigned to the course of your choice on or before the final day of classes for the semester.