~ How many times will I need
to come in?
For most studies, participation involves only one
session of testing, which typically lasts about 3 hours. We might be conducting
longer studies in the future, however, which involve up to a week of testing.
Following some studies, we will ask if we may contact you about participating
again in the future. Of course, future participation is not mandatory and is at
your discretion.
~ What are the rewards of participation?
In addition to financial compensation, participation
includes less direct benefits. You will learn more about how learning and memory
changes with age, from reading material I will provide you after
participation. You will know that you are contributing to important scientific
advances. You will interact with your peers as well as with research associates.
You will certainly have our appreciation! After all, it is through the
generosity and input of volunteers that I am able to gain valuable insight into
ways of helping people learn and solve problems more effectively.
~ Can I come in with a friend?
Please tell the scheduler that you are
interested in doing this, and if possible s/he will set up a time for both of you to come in
together.
~ What days/times are you available to run the
study?
We try to be as flexible as possible in scheduling
sessions. We have many times available at different times of day during the
week, and can set up sessions on weekends if required. After you are placed on
our participant list, a scheduler will contact you when our next study begins to
set up a time that is best for you.
~ Can you come to me to run the study or do I have to
go to UNCG?
Currently, it is necessary that our participants come
to UNCG in order to be a part of the study. Clear directions will be given and
the researcher will meet you upon your arrival. For future research, we might be
able to come to you – stay tuned!
~ What if I need to reschedule my
appointment?
If you need to reschedule or cancel your appointment,
it is important that you call 336-256-0038 or email us
(adult.cognition@gmail.com) at least 24 hours in advance. We can then work out
another time for you to come in and participate.
~ Is participation risky or painful?
No. You will primarily complete tasks that measure
your cognitive abilities, such as attention and memory. To gather health
information, we might ask you to complete a survey of questions. We might also
check your vision by having you read a chart. Some of our studies use a small
camera worn on a headband to examine your eye movements while completing tasks;
this can be more tiring than most of our studies so we will let you know before
scheduling if it is such a study. None of our tests are painful. You will likely
be tested while sitting at a computer (although no computer experience is
necessary), and will be offered frequent breaks in case you want to stretch your
fingers or relax your mind. You are certainly free to discontinue testing at any
point if you feel uncomfortable.
~ What if I perform badly on the tests?
Don’t worry. These tests vary in difficulty – some
are quite easy while others are very hard. If you have difficulty, it is
probably the nature of the task rather than a reflection on your ability. Just
do your best. Our tests are not intended as a substitute for medical testing,
and we are not licensed to practice medicine. If you are very concerned about
your performance, you should contact your physician.
~ Will I be contacted about the results of this
study?
If you are interested in
seeing the results of this study, please let us know at the testing session.
Completing a project from the data collection phase through publication can take
months and often even years, so please be patient!