Credit
The Committee has approved the giving of course credit to students who participate in research as part of a course requirement only when alternative means of obtaining the same credit is made available to students who do not wish to volunteer as research subjects. Currently, this practice is used for Psych 120 students, under procedures developed and closely monitored by the Committee and the Psychology Department.

For all non-Psych 120 research where an instructor would like to make course credit available to students who participate in research, the Committee carefully reviews these alternatives to make sure that students are not being coerced into becoming subjects. For example, the alternatives to participating in the research cannot require considerably more time, effort, involvement, or stress than would the participation in the research. Evidence should be provided that faculty colleagues have reviewed the course requirement and endorsed by a department head.

The informed consent statement should make clear the consequences of withdrawing from a project prior to completion (e.g., will credit be given despite withdrawal?). As a general matter, the Committee favors giving credit even if the subject withdraws, unless the student withdraws immediately or there is evidence of bad faith on the part of the student.

Extra Credit
The Committee has approved giving extra credit to students who participate in research only when alternative means of obtaining the same credit is made available to the students who do not wish to volunteer as research subjects. The Committee requires that grades be calculated prior to the inclusion of the extra credit to avoid any possible coercion of the students. Once grades are calculated without the extra credit, then add the extra credit into the numerical grade.