Participate in a study

Choose a study 

Once you join our database, we'll email you with alerts for studies you can take part in. You can choose which ones to participate in and you will be offered a number of different dates and times.

You can take part in each study once. If you decide to take part in a study, we will send you an email detailing how to book your place and how long the study will be. Participants are invited in a random order to take part in studies, so you may not receive an invite even if a friend has - don't worry, more studies will be coming!

You can browse upcoming studies and discover the exciting work that is taking place at Essex, by visiting our online recruitment system SONA. SONA can be used by everyone, whether they belong to the University or not. If you have any questions regarding SONA, please contact us. 

Understand our rules and privacy policy

Our studies are always conducted with informed consent. You will be provided with details about the study before you agree to participate. Your data is kept strictly confidential at all times. For more information please read our participant rules (.pdf) and our privacy policy (.pdf).

What happens if I have to cancel?

If you have booked to take part but can no longer attend the study, please contact us to cancel at least 24 hours before the study commences. If you book but don't arrive for a number of studies, we will remove you from our database and you will no longer be able to participate.

How to find us 

Please familiarise yourself with the lab's location before attending.  We're located on the ground floor of the Social Sciences Research Centre, along with ISER and the UKDA, just across the bride from Square 2.  You can find us on Find Your Way Essex.

Lateness

Please arrive 10 minutes before your session start time. You will be unable to participate if you are late and we cannot be held responsible for your incurred travelling costs.

Don't forget your ID

Please make sure you bring some photographic ID with you (eg. a driving licence or passport). Essex students and staff are also able to use their University card. On arrival, the researcher will check your ID and show you where to sit. You'll be given clear instructions about the study and what you need to do. If you have any questions, raise your hand at any time and wait for a researcher or a lab assistant to advise you.

Oversubscribed studies

Due to the popularity of our studies we occasionally have more people than we need. If this happens, we randomly choose participants to be rewarded with £5 before being excused.

Be rewarded

Once you complete your session, you'll receive your reward via email shortly after leaving the lab. The reward will vary by study, please check your invitation email for more information.

We issue our rewards digitally through Tremendous, with over 150 different rewards to choose from, including high street vouchers and digital VISAs. View Tremendous's full catalogue, and select "United Kingdom" from the list.

Note: digital VISAs are not accepted by some venders; ESSEXLab recommends you choose a voucher with a company you know that you'll use, if possible.