Psychology research is research that asks questions about people's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Typically, psychology researchers identify a question, come up with hypotheses, design a study, collect and analyze data, and then share their findings with the scientific and broader community. 

Before they can begin, all psychology studies must receive approval from an Institutional Review Board of experts who review the study to make sure it is safe, ethical, and scientifically sound. The purpose of this board is to protect your rights and welfare. Researchers are required by law to explain the benefits and risks of participation in a way that is simple to understand. This is called informed consent. As a research participant, you are entitled to informed consent. Additionally, you are entitled to withdraw your consent at any time and for any reason. If you have questions or concerns about your rights as a research subject, or if you would like to obtain information or offer input, you may contact the Institutional Review Board at 919-966-3113 or by email to IRB_subjects@unc.edu. 

Although you may not gain direct personal benefits, your participation helps researchers learn more about how the brain and body work together in social interactions and processing social information, which will benefit the scientific community.  

Incentives include parking subsidies and compensation of $75. 

If you need parking, please inform a member of our study team at least 24 hours before your session. You can park in the participant spaces behind Davie Hall (235 E. Cameron Avenue). If those spaces are full, we will provide you with tickets to park in the Morehead Planetarium Lot (250 E. Franklin St). 

No, we do not anticipate any significant risks from participating in the study. Nonetheless, here are some potential risks:  

• It is possible that completing some tasks may cause you to experience mild discomfort or distress. However, your responses will remain anonymous and won’t be linked to your name or shared outside the lab. You can stop participating and any time and still receive partial compensation for the time spent.  

• The physiological devices we use are non-intrusive and cause no physical pain. The sensors, which are similar to adhesive bandages, allow us to monitor your heart rate. After removal, some participants may experience mild skin irritation that usually resolves within an hour. 

• All blood draws will be done by trained phlebotomists. You may experience mild pain or discomfort from the needle prick. After the blood draw, bruising may persist, but typically goes away within a few days. If you have any concerns, the research team will assist you.   

• The allergy test will cause a slightly swollen, red, itchy bump (i.e. wheal) to appear, similar to a bug bite. This reaction is expected and should go away within 30-60 minutes. While there may be temporary discomfort, no additional side effects are anticipated.  

You can withdraw from this study at any time and for any reason without penalty. The investigators also have the right to stop your participation at any time. If you end your participation early, you will still receive partial compensation for your time and effort. 

It will not cost you anything to be in this study. 

You will answer several surveys about your mood, thoughts, and emotional experiences. We will also monitor your heart rate and blood pressure for a portion of the study. Additionally, we will be taking blood samples and doing an allergy test procedure. 

Your identifiable data (e.g., name, email, phone number) will only be viewed by research personnel. Privacy and confidentiality will be maintained through the de-identification of all data (this means that we will remove any information that could identify data as belonging to you).  

We will analyze data from all participants to explore various questions about social information processing and physiological responses. Anything we find may be published in academic journals and posted online. Any data we publish will not be linked to your personal information.  

This study is sponsored by the National Science Foundation. The researchers do not, however, have a direct financial interest with the sponsor or in the final results of the study. 

Please contact the study coordinator, Stephanie, at stdjoso@unc.edu!