Student Resources for Psychological and Brain Sciences

Below are resources pertaining to general operating procedures for working with human research participants. Also included are several helpful templates, ranging from participant sign-up sheets to poster templates for research presentations.

Resources for Research Conducted with Human Participants

The Institutional Review Board oversees all research on campus involving human participants. Researchers should thoroughly review IRB guidelines and procedures. The IRB website also contains information about how to determine whether your research qualifies for exemption from IRB review, or whether it is classified as needing expedited review or full review. You will also find information regarding how to write and submit your proposal.

Visit the IRB site

The Belmont Report provides insight into the ethical guidelines that must be followed in research projects.

Download the Belmont Report

The investigator’s manual provides detailed guidance regarding the policies and procedures that govern Colgate’s IRB.

Download the manual

The following link has training resources for the research community on human research protections based on the Belmont report:

Human Research Protection Training

Colgate University has a Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) subscription that includes access to training courses for researchers. Contact the Grants Office for more information. 

Complete the training

Those who successfully complete the training will receive a Certificate of Completion, which must be shared with their research supervisor.

MAC Users

Take a screenshot of the certificate using Shift+Command+3. An image file will be saved to your desktop. Email that image file to your supervisor.

PC Users

Take a screenshot of the certificate by pressing the “Print Scrn” key, then open “Paint” (Start->All Programs->Accessories->Paint) and paste (Ctrl+v). Save the file in .jpg format to your desktop, then email the image file to your supervisor.

Guidelines for Recruiting Human Participants

These guidelines apply to all students recruiting participants from the PSYC 150 – Introduction to Psychology class.

Download guidelines

Use this template if you plan to recruit participants from PSYC 150 – Introduction to Psychology and plan to post your experiment on the experiment sign-up board.

The template is formatted as described in the guidelines for recruiting participants from the PSYC 150 subject pool. Add as many time-slot sheets as needed, but do not flood the sign-up board.

Download sign-up sheet template

Instructive guidelines regarding the proper format for pretesting surveys/questionnaires.

Download pretesting guidelines

General Resources

Thirteen steps to graduating with honors or high honors
Suggested progress check points (from junior to senior year) for conducting honors/high honors research in psychological and brain sciences and neuroscience

PBSC Research Software
Two software packages used by the Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences

Six Guidelines for Interesting Research
Tips for how to approach your research question.

Request research space for your experiment
Reserve space for your experiment.

Poster template
This blank poster has been formatted to the department’s standard print size. Use portrait orientation: 36" width x 42" height.

APA formatting and style guide
General guidance in APA formatting

Converting PowerPoint Poster Presentations to PDF for printing
Download the above file for detailed instructions on how to convert a PowerPoint (ppt) poster presentation to a pdf (MAC users only).

Lab Manager/Gap Year Job Search Resources
Links and resources for job-finding

Apply for Research Funding

Psi Chi
Students must be members of Psi Chi to apply

Colgate’s Center for Learning, Teaching and Research
Funds for student travel to present research at professional conferences and meetings

Psychology Department and the Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
Consult your advisor academic about requesting departmental or divisional support.