We often recruit students or community members as potential research participants. Opportunities for research are posted below, as flyers in the Life Sciences Building or throughout university community, or through the SONA system. Participants may receive payment or extra credit in select Psychology courses for their participation. Individuals seeking payment should carefully review the list below; those seeking extra credit should be sure to look on SONA using the link above.
Participants needed for an 1.5 hour research study examining the effects of oral nicotine pouches (e.g., ZYN, on!, Velo)
Are you at least 21 years of age, do you currently smoke cigarettes? You may be eligible to participate in the study
Where: Life Sciences Building room 2314, Downtown Campus.
Interested? To see if you may be eligible, you can answer a few questions either by filling out the online survey or by calling the laboratory directly.
Laboratory Number: (304) 293-0551
For more information, email Jakob at: jdb00066@mix.wvu.edu
Principal Investigator: Melissa Blank, Ph.D., Department of Psychology
304-293-0551
WVU IRB approval is on file STUDY00000347
Participants needed for a 1.5-hour study examining the effects of different brands of electronic cigarettes/vapes. Participants will be compensated for both sessions.
Are you at least 21 years of age? Do you currently use electronic cigarettes/vapes? You may be eligible to participate in a research study!
Individuals who complete two ~1.5 hour sessions will be compensated.
Interested? To see if you may be eligible, you may answer a few questions using this link:
- Where: Life Sciences Building room 2314, Downtown Campus.
- For more information, email Jana at: jr00159@mix.wvu.edu
- Principal Investigator: Melissa Blank, Ph.D., Department of Psychology
- 304-293-0551
West Virginia University IRB approval is on file
If you qualify, you will receive $470 for completion of the study
You may be eligible to participate if:
- Have smoked at least 8 cigarettes a day for at least 6 months. It’s ok if you also vape.
- Are not currently receiving smoking cessation treatment of any kind and are not planning to quit smoking in the next few months
- Have not had treatment with TMS before
- Have no history of epilepsy or seizure disorder
- Have no metal or medical implants in your body that cannot be removed (e.g. aneurysm clips, a cardiac pacemaker, defibrillator, etc.)
- Have no known neurological disorder (e.g. Parkinson’s) or history of a traumatic brain injury
What to expect:
- You will complete 3 testing sessions, about 1 week apart, each lasting about 3.5 hours.
- Before the sessions, you will meet with a researcher online or in person for ~30 minutes and do some training to get ready for the in-person sessions.
- For each in-person session, you will come to the Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute.
- In each session you will first provide a urine sample for a drug screen.
- You will then complete some questionnaires and receive ~17 minutes of rTMS. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a form of non-invasive brain stimulation that has recently been approved by the FDA as a treatment for smoking cessation.
- Complete a brain imaging session, during which you will perform some tasks and complete smoking craving ratings
- Be paid for your time and participation
If interested, please complete the Eligibility form
For more information, contact Anna Isbreg at aei00004@mix.wvu.edu or Mariya Cherkasova at mariya.cherkasova@mail.wvu.edu.
IRB approval is on file.
Sessions involve:
Electroencephalography, playing a slot machine simulator game, computer tasks, filling out questionnaires
Requirements:
- Must be 21 years of age
- No use of psychoactive medication (e.g., SSRI, Adderall)
Compensation:
Individuals who complete the study will be paid up to $60.
Want to see if you qualify?
Fill out an eligibility survey
IRB approval is on file.
Sessions involve electroencephalography (EEG), playing a slot machine simulator game, writing about life experiences, and filling out questionnaires.
2 Sessions, 60 minutes per session, $40–50 per session
Eligibility:
- Must be 21 years old
- No use of psychoactive medication
Interested? Complete the short eligibility survey
For more information: Contact Isaac Kim at ik00023@mix.wvu.edu
IRB approval is on file.
This study involves a computer-based task, and sessions take 1 hour. Multiple sessions may be required.
Sessions take place in the Life Sciences Building (Downtown Campus of WVU)
Participants can earn monetary compensation
For more information, email Morgan Treadwell: mct00023@mix.wvu.edu
Principal Investigator: Dr. Kathryn Kestner, Department of Psychology, Life Sciences Building, Downtown Campus, (304) 804-7411; kmkestner@mail.wvu.edu
West Virginia University’s Institutional Review Board (IRB) has approval of this study on file (STUDY2107364750).
What is the study about?
The purpose of the study is to examine autonomic reactivity during stress tasks.
What will I get?
You’ll receive extra credit for participating in the screening questionnaire. If you are eligible to complete part 2 of the study, you’ll also earn a $15 Amazon gift card and additional extra credit through the WVU SONA system.
How do I participate?
Step 1: Complete the screening questionnaire in the WVU SONA system to determine your eligibility. To be eligible, you must be 18+, must not have any chronic health conditions, must not use tobacco or nicotine products more than 15 days per month, and must not take any medications that could influence cardiovascular reactivity.
Step 2: If you are eligible, you will be contacted via email to schedule a time for part 2. In part 2 of the study, you will:
- Participate in two tasks (puzzles) for approximately 1 hour in the Life Sciences Building
- Have your blood pressure and heart rate recorded during completion of these tasks.
Questions? Contact Emma Thompson for more info at erp0014@mix.wvu.edu
Principal Investigator: Kevin Larkin, PhD (kevin.larkin@mail.wvu.edu; 304-293-1700)
WVU Department of Psychology
*The West Virginia University Institutional Review Board's approval of this project is on file with the WVU Office of Human Research Protections
The purpose of the study is to assess how accurately people collect data based on features of the videos they watch. Participation involves watching a series of brief videos showing interactions between a child and an adult and collecting data based on those interactions.
The study takes place at the Life Sciences Building on WVU's campus and lasts approximately 2 hours. Participants will receive $2 per video completed, with the opportunity to earn up to $32 or $36, depending on the version of the study to which they are randomly assigned. Compensation will be provided as an electronic Amazon Gift Card.
Eligibility Criteria
(you only need to meet one of the following criteria)
- You have completed or are currently enrolled in a course about behavior analysis. At WVU, this includes PSYC 302, PSYC 368, PSYC 402, PSYC 531, PSYC 722, or PSYC 754, amongst many others.
- You have completed or are currently enrolled in an ABAI-accredited program. At WVU, this includes the Undergraduate Behavior Analysis Certificate Program or the Ph.D. in Behavior Analysis.
- You are a member of a research lab led by a faculty member in the behavior analysis program area. WVU faculty include Karen Anderson, Brennan Armshaw, Ray Joslyn, Katie Kestner, Andy Lattal, and Mike Perone.
- You currently work under the supervision of a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). This includes behavior technicians and individuals accruing supervision hours toward certification.
- You hold a BACB credential. This includes a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT), Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst (BCaBA), Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), or Board Certified Behavior Analyst–Doctoral (BCBA-D).
For more information: email Olivia Harvey at: obh00001@mix.wvu.edu
Principal Investigator: Claire St. Peter, Ph.D., Department of Psychology, Claire.StPeter@mail.wvu.edu
West Virginia University IRB approval is on file
What is the study about?
The purpose of the study is to test and validate a new measure of coping flexibility.
What will I get?
All participants who provide an email address will have a chance to receive 1 of 16 $50 Amazon gift cards. Additionally, undergraduates in a psychology course will receive extra credit for participating in the questionnaire through SONA.
How do I participate?
Complete the questionnaire in the WVU SONA system. To be eligible, you must be 18+ and speak English.
Questions? Contact Matthew Grendell for more info at mkg00016@mix.wvu.edu
Principal Investigator: Kevin Larkin, PhD (kevin.larkin@mail.wvu.edu; 304-293-1700), WVU Department of Psychology
*The West Virginia University Institutional Review Board's approval of this project is on file with the WVU Office of Human Research Protections; STUDY00000498
Participants needed for a study examining nicotine and THC vaping products
- WHO: At least 18 years of age, currently vape BOTH nicotine and THC
- WHERE: One online session via ZOOM
- Participants who complete the single session can earn a $50 Amazon gift card
If interested, please complete this brief eligibility survey:
For more information, email Madeline ( ms00227@mix.wvu.edu)
Principal Investigator: Melissa Blank, Ph.D., Department of Psychology, (304) 293-0551
WVU IRB approval is on file