RESEARCH PARTICIPATION I

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

School of Business and Economics

BSC INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Academic Year 2017-2018
Period 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3
1 COURSE DESCRIPTION STUDY GUIDE
Weblink to course http://www.vu.nl/en/study-guide/2016-2017/bachelor/international-business-
description online administration/index.aspx?view=module&origin=50051725&id=51175546

Course Name Research Participation I

Course Code E_IBA1_RPR1

Period 1.1, 1.2, 1.3

Credits 0.0, requirement to pass Academic Skills 1.3

Language Dutch/English

Course Coordinator Dr. Jiska Eelen

Teachers Not applicable. Researchers of all the SBE departments organize research
sessions.

Course Objectives Research participation provides an opportunity to get involved in how

research is organized and practiced, and to incorporate those experiences in
developing academic and research skills. The educational programme links
the experiences to theories and research methods.

Content In the first and the second year of the bachelor programme, students
participate in different types of research (e.g., experiments, surveys,
interviews) conducted by the different departments at SBE.

Form of tuition Participation in research sessions

Assessment First year students demonstrate their learning experience by gathering 20

research credits. For first year students, research participation is part of the
course Academic Skills 1.3. First year students can participate in research
sessions in period 1, 2 and 3. We organize additional sessions in period 4 and
5 for students who have gathered at least 10 credits before the end of period
3.

Notice that students only receive points for Academic Skills once the
requirement of 20 research credits is fulfilled. At the end of period 3, 4 and 5
we communicate to the administration whether you have passed Research
Participation I. This is not communicated in between.

Literature Not applicable

Entry Requirements Not applicable

Recommended /
knowledge

Remarks /
2 RESEARCH PARTICIPATION COORDINATOR

Coordinator: Dr. Jiska Eelen SBE research administrator

Consultation: Contact by e-mail; always mention your full name, student number, vunet id,
educational program IBA, and RPR1

Dr. Jiska Eelen Course Coordinator (researchadministrator.SBE@vu.nl)

Jiska Eelen is the SBE LAB research coordinator and assistant professor
marketing at VU University Amsterdam. Before, she researched persuasive
communication at the Amsterdam School of Communication Research. She
holds a PhD in marketing from the University of Leuven, Belgium and has
visited the Rotterdam School of management and the psychology department
of University Blaise Pascal, Clermont-Ferrand, France. At all these different
locations she got acquainted with the research and lab facilities. She uses this
expertise to coordinate the Research Participation Project. Her own research
focuses on the effectiveness of sensorial marketing and on the impact of
innovation and change on consumer behavior.

3 PRACTICAL INFORMATION
3.1 REGISTRATION FOR THE COURSE AND THE ONLINE SBE RESEARCH PARTICIPATION SYSTEM
To participate in sessions and to register to your result, there are two important
matters;
1. You need to be registered officially to the course in Vunet
2. You need to have access to the online SBE research participation system
SONA
When officially registered for the course before its start, you will automatically be
registered to the online SBE research participation system SONA
(https://vueconomics.sona-systems.com/). You receive an e-mail with a user ID and
password. Note that your user ID will be your vunet ID (e.g., aaa111, a combination
of 3 letters and 3 numbers). The password can be altered once logged in. You are
advised to check the spam folder of the VU mailbox in case you receive no email.
When you are not officially registered for the course in time, you need to follow the
late registration procedure of the study secretary in Vunet. Also, contact the research
administrator to notify that you have started this procedure, together with your full
name, student number, vunet id, educational program IBA, and RPR1. We will then
create an online account for you, allowing you to start participating in research
sessions. Note that access to an online account does not mean that your registration
to the course is now official. That can only be arranged through the study secretary
and is required to register your result of participation.

3.2 RESEARCH SESSION SIGN-UPS

New sessions are announced almost weekly via email. We will also send reminders
in case of empty spots in sessions taking place.
Information about the research sessions (i.e., the subject of research, language,
location, estimated duration, amount of credits that can be earned) is communicated
in the online SBE research participation system SONA (https://vueconomics.sona-
systems.com/).
There are different types of studies, online and in labs. As a general rule 15 minutes
of research participation are rewarded with at least 1 research credit, limited to 15
credits per study. For most sessions, you will receive 1 or 2 credits. Exceptionally
there will be longer sessions paying more than 4 credits. You can track your earned
research credits online in SONA.
3.3 CANCELING PARTICIPATION IN A SESSION
You can cancel participation in a session until 24 hours before the start of the session
through the online system. In case of accidental delays of emergencies closer to the
start of your session, always contact the researcher who organizes the specific
session. Do not contact the administrator.
Unexcused no-shows lead to an automatic reduction of 2 credits.

3.4 PARTICIPATING IN RESEARCH SESSIONS

For all research sessions, online and in the lab, you will be requested to register your
vunet id as a proof of participation. The credits are automatically registered
electronically, within two days after participation in a lab study, or within a week after
the deadline of an online study. If you do not register with the correct vunet id while
participating, your credits cannot be allocated.
Lab sessions start sharp, so arrive in time. You are not allowed to enter late, as this
disturbs the ongoing of the session.
Lab sessions are scheduled in different time slots throughout the week. You will only
see the slots that are available. You are not allowed to participate during your
lectures and tutorials.
We expect you to take participation seriously. The research data are very important
to academic researchers. The responsible researcher will check if you carefully
followed up upon all instructions, within two weeks after your participation. If the
researcher decides you did not follow all instructions, she or he will eliminate your
earned credits again.
First year IBA students can participate in research sessions in period 1, 2 and 3. If by
the end of period 3, you havent acquired a total of 20 credits, you will not yet be able
to pass the course Academic skills. We organize retake sessions in period 4 and 5 for
students who have gathered at least 10 credits before the end of period 3.

3.5 REGISTRATION OF THE RESULT OF RESEARCH PARTICIPATION I AND CONNECTION TO

ACADEMIC SKILLS
At the end of period 3, 4 and 5 we communicate to the administration whether you
have passed Research Participation I. This is not communicated in between on
request of a student. As soon as your pass grade is officially registered by the
administration, your result of Academic Skills and associated ECTS will also become
officially available to you.
if you have not gathered 20 credits by the end of period 5, you will no longer be able
to pass the course Research Participation I in the current academic year, and will
have to retake the course next year.

4 RESEARCH CONDUCTED AT SBE IS SUBJECT TO STRICT ETHICAL GUIDELINES

At the start of the research session, students are informed about the procedure of the
session, the potential risks and benefits. The session only starts when students
provide formal agreement.
Students can retract from participation in a study at all times. Research credits will be
awarded in proportion to the time that has been dedicated to the study (i.e., +1 credit
per 15 minutes)
Researchers protect the students privacy. The collected information is treated
confidential. Databases are anonymized.
In case of ethical questions or concerns, students can contact the SBE Research
Participation Coordinator (researchadministrator.SBE@vu.nl) who will transfer
complaints tot the SBE Scientific Committee.