How to set up an experiment - Students

Are you a bachelor or master's students doing your thesis experiments in one of the labs? Then read through this page carefully, as there are many small steps you need to take when doing research in the labs.

• Planning lab time in the calendar

VU Webmail does not only include an email application, but also a calender. By default you only have access to your personal one. In order to get permission to make reservations in the lab you're going to test in, you have to contact the helpdesk and specify which lab you need access to (It is recommendable, if you also mention briefly who you are and why you need it). After they granted you the rights,"follow these steps:

1. open your webmail:*change to "calenders"
2. click on "Share"
3. click on "Add Calender
4. insert the name of the calender and hit ok (Use "name" to find the proper lab name)

• How to get participants
  • make flyers and distribute them on the campus, in particular in the transitorium.
  • Put your study on the Sona System. Ask your supervisor for help if necessary.
  • Ask the respective research assistant to put advertize your study on facebook

• How to set up the lab for your experiment
  • Find out in time whether everything you need is in the lab. If not contact the helpdesk.
  • Make sure that your experiment is working, before your participants are coming. It is not sufficient, to test it at home or at some other computer, it has to work in the lab.
  • Organize all paperworks you will need (e.g. Instructions, Informed Consents, Kwijteringslijst, Debriefing,...)

In general, you should always talk to you supervisor and decide together with him/her, what exactly to do.