Psychology Research Pool

You鈥檙e likely reading this because earning research credit is a requirement or an extra credit option for one of your Psychology courses. This is an exciting opportunity for you to learn about the process of psychological research! Below is an overview of the three options for earning credit. For detailed instructions about how to accomplish each step of the credit-earning process, follow the 鈥渟tudent instructions for research pool鈥� link below. (Researchers & Instructors, scroll down for information).

To get started, you need to create an account or login to your existing Research Pool (Sona) account. If you do not yet have an account, and your course requires research credit (e.g., all 101/102 classes), you need to create your account by the last day in September (in Fall) or February (in Spring). Regardless of the option(s) you choose below, credit will be recorded in the Research Pool (thus you cannot earn credit without an account). If you had already created a Research Pool (Sona) account in the Fall semester, you should be able to use the same account during the following Spring semester.


Once you鈥檝e got your account set up, there are three options to earn credit.


Option 1: Participate in Studies. This is the most common option. The credit amount varies as specified when you sign up on Research Pool. For in person studies, be sure to arrive promptly at your specified timeslot. For online studies, be sure to prepare an uninterrupted period of time to complete the study. Credit should be granted within one week of participation (in person) or the study鈥檚 due date (online).


If you do not wish to or cannot (e.g., you are younger than 18, which limits options) participate in studies you have two other options to earn credit. Note that both of these options REQUIRE SUBMITTING WRITTEN WORK (i.e., the research or colloquium report) to earn full credit. That written work is due by 5:00pm EST on the last day of classes. Credit should be granted by the end of Final Exams period for both of the following options.


Option 2: Colloquium Reports. This can be completed only if you see a 鈥淐olloquium Presentation鈥� available on Research Pool. If so, sign up, attend the colloquium at the specified time and complete and submit the Colloquium Report according to all of the requirements specified in the instructions below. Attending a colloquium is worth 2 credits and submitting the Colloquium Report is worth an additional 1 credit.


Option 3: Research Reports. This can be completed by anyone interested in earning credit at any time during the semester (prior to the due date). Just complete and submit the Research Report according to all of the requirements specified in the instructions below. Each Research Report is worth 3 credits. 


Click here for student instructions for Research Pool.


  • FAQ Section 
  •  I forgot my Research Pool login info: Go to https://towson.sona-systems.com/ and click the 鈥淔orgot Password?鈥� button (in gray on the right). Then follow the prompts to retrieve your password.
  • I didn鈥檛 get credit for a study I completed: Has it been less than a week since in-person participation or a study鈥檚 due date? If so, sit tight. If it has been more than a week, you may e-mail the study鈥檚 鈥淧rincipal Investigator鈥� (find this in the study info) to inquire about your credit.
  • An online study crashed while I was running it:  E-mail BOTH PsychResAdmin@towson.edu and the study鈥檚 鈥淧rincipal Investigator鈥� and you will receive further information about how to proceed from them.
  • I showed up for an in-person study and no one was there to greet me:  E-mail BOTH PsychResAdmin@towson.edu and the study鈥檚 鈥淧rincipal Investigator鈥�  and you will receive further information about how to proceed from them.
  • There are no available studies in the pool:  Keep checking back frequently! Studies get posted at varying time points throughout the semester.
  • Any other questions? Be sure you have fully read the 鈥渟tudent instructions for research pool鈥� document. Then if you have remaining questions, please e-mail PsychResAdmin@towson.edu. 

Click here for Researcher instructions for Research Pool.

Click here for Instructor instructions for Research Pool.