FAQs

In-depth information for (1) students, (2) researchers, (3) instructors are presented on their respective BIL pages. Please check those out to understand the processes and requirements before going to the short FAQ below.

FOR STUDENTS:

Eligibility & Enrollment:

What COB classes offer extra credit through research?
Studies are currently only open to students enrolled in the MAR3023 class. We recommend checking back as we may increase the subject pool in the following semesters. 

Am I eligible to earn class credit through research?
You are only eligible to participate and earn points in a given course if the professor or syllabus states so explicitly. If your class is offering such credit, it will be noted in your syllabus. In the syllabus your professor will also indicate what research sessions will translate into in terms of your grade. If you are unsure or have questions, please check your syllabus or contact your professor/TA.

How do I sign up to complete research for class credit?
At the beginning of the semester, eligible students receive an email with login credentials for the BIL SONA system. Check your spam folder, as emails from the BIL often end up there. The email includes your user ID and password, which you can update anytime. Be sure to keep your login information handy for use throughout the semester.

Can I take part in research extra credit even if I am ineligible/do not prefer research studies?
Yes, if your class participates in the extra research credit through the BIL, but you are not able (under 18 years old) or unwilling to take research studies, you may sign up for alternative research assignments through our BIL Sona System. The sign-up process is the same as for students participating in research studies: you create your account through the BIL SONA System and then check that you do not want/can take part in research studies during the original sign-up. You will then be re-directed to research alternatives. Once you decide for either being a research participant or choose the alternative assignments route, you will need to stick with the selection through the respective semester – switching between the modes is not possible. Please visit the For Students page for more information.

Can I participate in studies if I don’t need extra credit?
Yes, you are more than welcome to, as long as you are enrolled in the classes offering extra credit. 

I am enrolled in a course offering BIL extra credit but have not received an email with my ID and password. What should I do?
First, be sure to check your junk or spam mail settings. Your account should be set to receive emails from “@sona-systems.com” and “cobinsightslab@fau.edu”. Make sure you “white list” these addresses/domain names. If you do not know how to do this on the specific email program you use, please search online, or reach out to FAU’s help desk. If you still cannot find the email, please contact us at cobinsightslab@fau.edu and we will ensure a new user ID and password gets sent to you.

Participation & Credit Allocation:

How many credits can I receive and how much of my time does this require?
The translation of credits into your grade can vary from course to course, and is specified in your syllabus. Generally studies and alternative assignments are designed in 15-minute increments, each 15 minutes equivalates to 1 Sona Participation Credit (30-minute studies equivalates to 2 Sona Participation Credits and so on). With that being said, if you were to want to earn all 4 credits for your class, this would take you 1 hour.

Can I receive partial credit?
Yes, your credit is based on the level of participation. If you complete less than 4 sessions, your professor will give you partial credit toward your grade (based on the number of sessions you did complete), based on the criteria set forth in his/her syllabus.

Does one BIL Sona Research credit count for multiple classes?
No. Each credit applies to only one course. You must select the course when signing up for a study, and this decision cannot be changed later.

Is there a limit to how many studies I can participate in and how many credits I can earn?
The system does not impose a limit, but professors typically allow a maximum of 4 research credits per course. Additional credits beyond this limit will not count toward your grade.

How do I know how many credits a study is worth and whether I’ve received them?
Each study posted on the system indicates how long it will take and how many credits you will receive for completing it. You can see this in the study info when it is posted. You can view how many credits you have by logging into your account.

When will the extra credit be posted to my canvas account?
By the end of the semester.

Study Availability & Scheduling:

How can I know when there are studies available?
Only students with a BIL SONA account receive email notifications about upcoming studies. These notifications are typically sent a week before studies are posted. Studies fill up quickly, so sign up as soon as possible. Make sure that you enable it in your settings when you create your account to check that you want study updates. Additionally, check the system regularly for new postings.

How often will studies be available?
Studies are posted throughout the semester as researchers need participants. There is no set schedule, and availability may vary. Research slots are filled on a first-come, first-served basis, so don’t wait until the end of the semester to earn credits. Waiting until the end of the semester is likely to result in your inability to earn all the credits you want. There will be more than sufficient opportunities for earning credits (even for multiple courses) throughout the semester. However, if you do not take advantage of these opportunities early and often, there is no guarantee you will be able to earn all credits.

I need more credits, but there are no studies. What do I do?
If it’s early in the semester, wait for more studies to be posted. If it’s late in the semester, opportunities may be limited, and you may not be able to earn all the credits you need.

Troubleshooting:

I’ve read the FAQ and BIL webpage, and have an ID/Logon, but I am having trouble using the system. What should I do?
If you’re experiencing technical issues, contact the system administrator at cobinsightslab@fau.edu.

I have problems with a research study. Who should I contact?
Please contact the researcher whose study you are taking directly. You can find their email at the beginning of the study. If you do not receive a response, please email the administrator at cobinsightslab@fau.edu.

I have a different problem, not covered above. Who should I contact?
If you have another question or concern, please email the administrator at cobinsightslab@fau.edu.

FOR RESEARCHERS AND INSTRUCTORS:

Getting started:

How can I use the BIL for my research?
Faculty interested in using the BIL for research studies should visit our For Researchers page for detailed information. If you have further questions, contact us at cobinsightslab@fau.edu.

Does research conducted in the lab require IRB approval?
Yes. All studies involving human subjects must receive IRB approval or exemption before research begins in the Behavioral Insights Lab. Please see the For Researchers page for a proposed paragraph to add to your IRB application when using the BIL student subject pool.

How do I go about posting research studies in the BIL Sona System?
After contacting us at cobinsightslab@fau.edu, we will create a researcher account for you. Please review the For Researchers page in depth, follow the step-by-step instructions, and make sure you meet the requirements. Tutorial videos are posted for your convenience. Once you have set up your study, please email us and we will review and if no changes are required approve the study.

Extra Credit:

How can instructors offer extra credit for research participation?
We rely on our faculty’s willingness to encourage and reward student participation in our BIL studies. Faculty that are interested in adding students from their courses to the lab pool can contact the lab directly at cobinsightslab@fau.edu. More details are available on our For Instructors page.

How will student credits be tracked and assigned for courses? 
Students sign up to complete studies using the BIL SONA system, which also tracks their participation and credits. Participating faculty members will be provided with a report containing a list of their students who have participated in the lab for class credit. This report details the total number of credits that the student received for the semester. Each faculty member can determine how credits are assigned in their courses as outlined in their syllabus or course policies.  

Lab Access:

Can faculty outside the College of Business use the BIL?
Currently, the BIL is focusing its efforts on supporting researchers within the College of Business during its pilot phase. However, we anticipate that, in future semesters, there may be opportunities for faculty from other colleges to access the lab, subject to availability.

What kinds of research studies can be conducted in the lab?
As of now, the lab is primarily designed for the administration of online studies. Researchers can conduct a variety of research formats, including surveys, experiments, and interviews.

Are there any costs associated with using the lab?
For researchers within the College of Business, there is no charge for utilizing the BIL for academic research purposes.

Is the BIL open year-round?
The BIL is operational during the Fall and Spring semesters, supporting research activities throughout these periods. It is not currently open for research during the Summer months.