Computer Lab Configuration and Equipment
The Psychology Departments’ Behavioral Sciences Computerized Data Collection Laboratory consists of a set of 10 Dell microcomputers for data collection connected to a centralized file server computer for program and data storage. There are 2 rooms set up with 3 computers each for small-group data collection and 4 rooms with individual computers for 1-on-1 data collection. Each computer runs MediaLab and DirectRT as its primary data collection software and is also equipped with Microsoft Office, SPSS, and Internet Explorer for additional data collection options.
Beginning of the Semester/Mid-Semester Signup Procedures
1) For projects that have IRB approval and are ready to run prior to the beginning of the semester, there will be a “call for lab use” a week prior to the beginning of the semester (with applications due the Friday before the semester begins). Applications must be signed off by a faculty member (even if a graduate student is the primary researcher) and negotiations about timing and/or space conflicts will be negotiated through the faculty member (with the exception of students working on their dissertations). Applicants will be asked to indicate: 1) the type of study (e.g., priming, computer-based questionnaire, etc.); 2) the computer configuration needed (cluster of 3 or individual room); 3) the additional equipment needed (e.g., chin rests, headphones); 4) the number of computer-hours needed; 5) available hours between 8am and 9pm; 6) any additional software they need to install to run the study (any additional software installation must be approved by both Marc Kiviniemi and David Dewester)
2) Based on the information provided, projects will be allotted a certain number of computer hours (proportional to the number of projects for which applications are received) for weeks 2-7 of the semester and will be allotted time slots for using those hours (allotments will be made by the computer lab grant PIs). Each Friday, the researcher will receive an email listing their schedule for the week beginning one week after the upcoming Monday (e.g., at the end of the first week of the month they will get their schedule for the third week of the month). The researcher will have until 4pm the following MONDAY to indicate if they will not be using any of those times so that they can be reassigned as described below under “ongoing weekly signup”. Researchers found to be not releasing times they are not using will be penalized on future allocation requests. Note that this reallocation and penaliy is only for times that researchers are not ATTEMPTING to use (e.g., not posting on experimetrix). We recognize that participants may not signup for all the times a researcher makes available. The penalty for a first time failure to give up times not posted on experimetrix will be a warning to both the researcher and the faculty advisor. For a second offense, the researcher will lose lab data collection privileges for 1 week. For the third offense, the researcher will lose privileges for 1 month. Any additional offenses will result in the loss of lab privileges until a meeting is held with the lab coordinators and the faculty supervisor to determine appropriate action.
3) This procedure will repeat with a second call at the beginning of week 6 for data collection times beginning week 8. Researchers who submitted a proposal at the beginning of the semester will be able to simply continue that proposal for the second part, but computer-hours will be re-allotted based on new proposals submitted.
Ongoing Weekly Signup Procedures
1) On Tuesday morning of each week, unallotted computer-hours for the following week will become available for first-come, first-served signup. This signup can take two forms. First, researchers whose projects have already been approved and who already have times can sign up for additional times. In addition, researchers who did not submit a proposal at either of the two main times can, once they have received IRB approval and submitted an application, sign up for open computer hours.