Xlab Rules & Policies
In order to participate in experiments, you must:
- Register with Berkeley Sona
- Be 18 years or older
- Be a UC Berkeley Student or Staff member
- Show your valid Cal ID when taking an experiment
- Be at the experiment room on time—NOT Berkeley time
- If you sign up for an experiment and do not show up, you will receive a “no-show”
- Four accumulated no-shows and your account will be disabled from signing up in future experiments
- In order to avoid no-shows, cancel out of an experiment you cannot make on Sona 24 hours before the experiment is to take place
- Some researchers over-recruit for their experiments, so you are never guaranteed a spot to participate
- If the experiment is at capacity and you are present before the start time, you will be compensated $5 for showing up on time and not being able to participate
- We recommend showing up 5-10 minutes before the experiment to help ensure your spot to participate
- Use of AI tools such as ChatGPT and similar products are prohibited unless it is required in the study procedures. Participants who are suspected of using AI for a study will be given a chance to explain/respond. If they did use AI, they will be warned and added to a list that may not be invited to certain studies.
- Xlab experiments that take place in-lab are generally paid by check
- Any participant is eligible to cash their check with a teller at any Bank of America with the check and a photo ID—you do not need a Bank of America account
- Online experiments may be paid virtually with Amazon.com gift codes, Paypal transfers, Berkeley Prepaid Virtual Visa, or others. Experiments will say on the Study Information page how the experiment will be paid
Why Should I Cancel?
- If you sign up for a study and know you cannot make it, you should cancel your timeslot to avoid receiving a "no-show"
- Accruing 4 no-shows automatically disables you from signing up—by canceling, you will not receive a no-show
- Arriving after the experiment start time may also result in a no-show
- The cancellation deadline is 24 hours before the start of the experiment
- Log into Berkeley Sona
- At the top of the page, click "My Schedule/Credits"
- Click the cancel button for the appropriate experiment.
- If the cancel button is not visible, then the cancellation deadline of 24 hours has passed. Email Xlab ASAP to let us know you will not be attenting the experiment.