Students Subjected to Study

Considered spending intersession being monitored with rectal temperature sensors, guaranteed not to cause "continuing discomfort"? Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital hope that this proposition will pique student interest--along with the $900 paycheck.

Such a hefty sum might draw a few brave souls--students said that money is the primary reason they participate in psych experiments to begin with. Others may be fulfilling course requirements or considering psychology as a possible concentration.

But how far will student go for academic or monetary kudos? For better or for worse, the College sets limits. Studies that use students are approved by a special committee to ensure that the risk to students is minimal.

Rectal temperature sensors is extreme, but not too extreme for those at Brigham and Women's Hospital attempting to find out the best way to help people adapt to nightwork. By evaluating the role light exposure may have on night time alertness and performance, scientists hope to uncover ways to make nightwork easier.

Unfortunately, the director of the experiment is out of town and could not be reached for comment. However, some students who contacted the study's organizers were sent an informational e-mail describing the more disturbing aspects of what the money is paying for--38 hours without sleep, and with sensors. Posters advertising the study across campus fail to mention the sensors, instead choosing to highlight the cash payment.

Many students decided not to partake in the study.

"Obviously they're not going to put this on the sign, but things like rectal thermometers and staying up [that long]... is not going to bring in students. I think upon learning that most people would decide it's not worth the money no matter how much it is," Daniel E. Kim '00 said. Kim decided not to participate after learning more about the study.

Albert H. Cho '02, who estimates that he has participated in 20 Psych studies since arriving at Harvard this fall, agreed.

"I would never do a study that had any potential for anything dangerous or unpleasant. Anything that violates me like that is unacceptable," Cho said.

Instead of provoking physical discomfort, many of the experiments students like Cho participate in verge on boring.

"A lot of them are a little mundane," Cho admitted.

"There was one where they asked me to sit in a room and sort 200 index cards into 12 piles," he said.

A number of students disagreed, saying that the studies can be both interesting and a good way to learn about psychology.

"I've liked the activities for the most part...It's been a good experience, and it's interesting to learn about psychology," said Rupal C. Pinto '02, who has participated in about five studies this year.

Regardless, the money is what keeps students coming back again and again. The studies typically pay between $5 and $10 for a half-hour of time.

Sarah E. Hoff'02, who has a campus job as part of her financial aid package, said the money she earns from the studies helps pay for extra expenses.

"My psych money doesn't make a significant contribution to my tuition, but with the whole cost of living it's good to have extra cash," Hoff said. "It really adds up fast if you do it a lot." Hoff said she has participated in about 20 psych experiments already this year.

"I do it mainly to make money. It's a good way to get a couple of extra bucks for the weekend," Pinto agreed.

While the studies are ostensibly voluntary, some students also participate as part of their Psychology 1 course requirements. Students can replace one of the three required course papers with three experiments.

Adda Kridler '01, who took Psych 1 last semester, appreciated the option.

"It gave good leeway in case I did bad- ly on one of the papers or didn't have time to finish one," Kridler said.

"It also provided a good perspective on what psychological studies are like and what kind of things I would be doing if I decided to do a psych concentration," she said.

Others agreed that participating in psych studies felt less like enforced labor and more like a good way to decide whether to pursue a concentration in psychology.

"It definitely helped [me decide to concentrate in psychology]. I got to talk to people and asked them questions and I saw that I'd like to be on the other side doing that," Olivia M. Hall '02 said.

Most students described having participated in visual studies, surveys and cognitive tests, but a few decided to check out some of the more unusual opportunities advertised on campus.

Hall spent the night in a lab with electrodes attached to her head as part of a sleep study. She was woken up periodically throughout the night so that those observing her could administer cognitive tests.

"[The researcher] woke me up in a certain phase of sleep and I had to do math problems for three minutes and then I was allowed to go to sleep," said Hall.

Overall, she said the experience was a good one.

"It was really nice to finally get so much sleep--I was supposed to sleep for 8 hours and I don't usually get that," she said.

James Y. Stern '01 also participated in an overnight sleep study and an experiment in which they took an MRI of his brain.

"The MRI was kind of scary because it was this experimental level twice the MRI strength... They locked me in this little tube for two hours and I was not allowed to move," said Stern, who is also a Crimson editor.

Like the other students, Stern said his primary motive was monetary.

"I chose them because they were high paying. It's not worth the effort of seven dollars for one hour. If I wanted that, I could just get a job. I like the one fat lump sum," Stern said.

The "fame" that came later was merely an added bonus.

"The really cool thing was that one day I looked at the cover of the [Harvard] Gazette and saw the doctor who had run the experiment and he was making headlines with his research. And I was one of the subjects who allowed him to figure out how memory works," Stern said.

Even Stern, however, said that he would be unwilling to participate in a study which required him to be hooked up to rectal temperature sensors while staying up for 38 hours straight.

"I would never consider such a thing. Never, never, never, never ever. There's not enough money in the world," he said, before asking how much it paid.

While students universally opposed the idea of participating in such a study, members of the administration said that the risk to students in most of these experiments is minimal.

Experiments conducted at the College that may present a risk to the participants require approval by the Standing Committee on the Use of Human Subjects in Research. Additionally, the Committee on Student Research Participation must approve studies that would use students as participants.

"What we look for is that the research is warranted, the solicitation of subjects is appropriate and consistent with University rules, and that students aren't deceived or mistreated or asked to do things that require an excess time commitment," said Charles P. Ducey, director of the Bureau of Study Council and chair of the committee on student research participation "The harm or risk is relatively minimal with these studies," Ducey said

"It also provided a good perspective on what psychological studies are like and what kind of things I would be doing if I decided to do a psych concentration," she said.

Others agreed that participating in psych studies felt less like enforced labor and more like a good way to decide whether to pursue a concentration in psychology.

"It definitely helped [me decide to concentrate in psychology]. I got to talk to people and asked them questions and I saw that I'd like to be on the other side doing that," Olivia M. Hall '02 said.

Most students described having participated in visual studies, surveys and cognitive tests, but a few decided to check out some of the more unusual opportunities advertised on campus.

Hall spent the night in a lab with electrodes attached to her head as part of a sleep study. She was woken up periodically throughout the night so that those observing her could administer cognitive tests.

"[The researcher] woke me up in a certain phase of sleep and I had to do math problems for three minutes and then I was allowed to go to sleep," said Hall.

Overall, she said the experience was a good one.

"It was really nice to finally get so much sleep--I was supposed to sleep for 8 hours and I don't usually get that," she said.

James Y. Stern '01 also participated in an overnight sleep study and an experiment in which they took an MRI of his brain.

"The MRI was kind of scary because it was this experimental level twice the MRI strength... They locked me in this little tube for two hours and I was not allowed to move," said Stern, who is also a Crimson editor.

Like the other students, Stern said his primary motive was monetary.

"I chose them because they were high paying. It's not worth the effort of seven dollars for one hour. If I wanted that, I could just get a job. I like the one fat lump sum," Stern said.

The "fame" that came later was merely an added bonus.

"The really cool thing was that one day I looked at the cover of the [Harvard] Gazette and saw the doctor who had run the experiment and he was making headlines with his research. And I was one of the subjects who allowed him to figure out how memory works," Stern said.

Even Stern, however, said that he would be unwilling to participate in a study which required him to be hooked up to rectal temperature sensors while staying up for 38 hours straight.

"I would never consider such a thing. Never, never, never, never ever. There's not enough money in the world," he said, before asking how much it paid.

While students universally opposed the idea of participating in such a study, members of the administration said that the risk to students in most of these experiments is minimal.

Experiments conducted at the College that may present a risk to the participants require approval by the Standing Committee on the Use of Human Subjects in Research. Additionally, the Committee on Student Research Participation must approve studies that would use students as participants.

"What we look for is that the research is warranted, the solicitation of subjects is appropriate and consistent with University rules, and that students aren't deceived or mistreated or asked to do things that require an excess time commitment," said Charles P. Ducey, director of the Bureau of Study Council and chair of the committee on student research participation "The harm or risk is relatively minimal with these studies," Ducey said