Research participation: Current opportunities

Information about the study

Neck-shoulder pain is a widespread condition. Currently, the most common method of measuring pain is to ask a person to rate their pain intensity on a number scale (e.g., 0-10). This lacks objectivity and prevents us from understanding the different qualities of pain. This study aims to investigate the consistency of two objective pain measures across different examiners and sessions. Using pressure to create pain

Eligibility/ criteria for taking part

You can participate if you meet the following criteria:

• aged 18-65 years
• experiencing an episode of neck-shoulder pain with an intensity greater than 2/10 (0 is no pain, 10 is maximum pain)
• No history of neck trauma or recent neck trauma, recent neck and shoulder surgery.

You must also not have any of the following

• Pregnancy
• Medications and medical conditions that alter normal sensation.
• No history of any cancer.
• Unable to follow and understand instructions in verbal and written English.

If you are interest to take part in our study. Please limit intake of alcohol, painkillers, or anti-inflammatory medications for 24 hours before the test sessions.

What do the participants have to do?

1. Participant will receive the full briefing of the entire data collection process, answering any questions, and signing the informed consent (~10 mins).
2. Complete a questionnaire and neck pain assessment to collect characteristic data (e.g., age, height, weight, gender) (~15 mins)
3. Participant will receive pressure pain testing on their neck and arms, like in the picture below (figure 1), across two 40-minute sessions. (~120 mins)
4. After the session, receive a therapeutic massage to the neck-shoulder region (~10 mins). 

How do participants take part and who should they contact?

If anyone would like to participate, they can contact Miss Supawan Chaiprakaiwan for more information.

Ethical Approval

This study has been granted a favourable ethical opinion by the University Ethics Committee under the reference ETH2526-0271.

Data collection period

5 January - 27 March 2026

Resources

• Research Study Poster (.png)
• Participant information sheet (.pdf)

Information about the study

This study investigates whether gamified personality assessments offer advantages over traditional questionnaires for Generation Z candidates. It compares a gamified Big Five measure (GPM-nI) with a traditional inventory (IPIP-NEO short form) using a between-subjects design. The study examines differences in face validity, engagement, and faking behaviour, measured through both self-report and response times. It hypothesises that gamified assessments will be perceived as more valid and engaging and will reduce faking. Data from 210 UK-based participants aged 18–27 will be analysed to determine whether gamification can improve candidate experience while maintaining psychometric integrity.

Eligibility/ criteria for taking part

Participants must be aged 18 to 27 (Generation Z, excluding anyone under 18). They must be fluent in English and must not have experience with the GPM-nI.

What the participants have to do?

Participants will complete an online study lasting about 30 minutes. After reading an information sheet and giving informed consent, they will answer a short demographic questionnaire and then be randomly assigned to complete one personality assessment - either a traditional questionnaire or a gamified version. After the assessment, they will complete brief follow-up questionnaires measuring their perceptions of the test, their engagement, and their response style. Response times will be recorded automatically. The study ends with a debrief, and participants can withdraw their data for up to seven days after taking part.

How do participants take part and who should they contact?

Participants can complete the study online.

Contact the lead investigator for details.

Ethical approval

Ethical approval has been provided by Megan Wolstenholme on behalf of the Ethics group with the University of Essex Online.

Data collection period

4th December 2025 - 15th January 2026.

Information about the study

Approved mental health professionals can be responsible for informing assessments which can result in patients being detained under the Mental Health Act. This study aims to explore the ability to categorise different types of risk when presented with a mental health patient in one initial screening. This study categorises risk as risk to self (self-harm and suicide) and risk to others (violence). This study does not intend to replicate the Mental Health Assessment in its entirety, but rather addresses the much broader topic of risk decision-making.

Eligibility/criteria for taking part

Eligibility:

• Aged over 18
• Classified as an Advanced Mental Health Professional, which includes but is not exclusive to Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Mental Health Nurses, Mental Health Social Workers, and Mental Health Occupational therapists (Trainees in these Professions are also eligible).
• UK-based with a fluent understanding of English

What the participants have to do

This study uses Artificial Intelligence to create a video simulation of a mental health patient, which participant will view, alongside a written vignette. After each vignette a questionnaire will be presented for participant to assess risk as part of the research task. If you decide to take part in this study, you will be involved in it for up to 20 minutes for your completion of the full study.

How do participants take part and who should they contact?

Participants can access the study online.

If you have any questions, contact the Lead Researcher.

Funding

This study has received sponsorship from the University of Hertfordshire

Ethical Approval

University of Hertfordshire sponsorship of your research project following approval of the substantial amendment (amendment 2) by the relevant UH Ethics Committee with Delegated Authority (ECDA) 0733-Sa-HSET-2025.

HRA and HCRW Approval given with the IRAS Project ID number – 357392.

Amendment No./Sponsor Ref: 0733 Sa 2

Data collection period

February 2026, or until the maximum participant number has been reached

Information about the study

Research has shown that neck movement, muscle activity, sensation, and psychosocial factors are affected in people with neck pain. What is not known, is whether these changes are also present in people with recurrent neck pain even during the period of recovery (remission), and if these ongoing alterations lead to recurrence of neck pain. Therefore, the main purpose of the study is to investigate neck muscle activity, movement, sensation, and psychosocial factors in people with recurrent neck pain, compare the data with pain-free volunteers, and then follow-up people in remission from neck pain over time to understand whether any features can predict the recurrence of neck pain. Also, we will look at how the development of new neck pain episodes is related to changes in behavioural and environmental factors, such as work-related characteristics, physical activity, psychosocial function, and sleep quality.

Eligibility/criteria for taking part

You can participate if you meet the following criteria:

• Age between 18 and 70 years.
• Experience of two or more episodes of NP (lasting more than 24 hours) separated by periods of remission (30 days or more) during the previous 12 months.
• Episodes of neck pain with intensity that required treatment (e.g., from a healthcare professional or painkillers) or limited your function (average intensity greater or equal to 2 out of 10, with 10 being the worst pain you can imagine and 0 no pain).
• Neck pain-free over the last 30 days.

You must also not have any of the following:

• Previous shoulder or spinal surgery.
• History of neck trauma e.g., whiplash injury.
• Cervical radiculopathy.
• Previous fracture in the neck or shoulder region.
• Spinal deformity.
• Neurological or cardiovascular disorders.
• Rheumatic joint disease.
• Current pregnancy.
• Currently receiving treatment of neck pain from the NHS.
• Contraindications to exercise.

What the participants will have to do?

After you sign the online consent form, you will be asked to complete a short questionnaire to confirm you meet the eligibility criteria (e.g., history of neck pain, contraindication to exercise, and conditions listed above). Once a researcher has reviewed your answers and confirmed your eligibility, they will invite you to attend the laboratory session. The experiment will take place in a laboratory at the School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Birmingham OR at the School of Sport, Rehabilitation, and Exercise Sciences at the University of Essex based on what site is more convenient for you.

You will be asked to attend one data collection session, taking approximately 2 hours. This session can be organised at a time that will suit you. During this session, we will ask you to complete a series of questionnaires related to psychological factors like stress, anxiety and fear of pain.

We will then test your pain sensitivity, and to do this we will apply pressure over points on your neck and your leg and will ask you to tell us as soon as you feel pain. Then an inflatable pressure cuff will be mounted on your non-dominant arm. The cuff will be inflated and you shall indicate when you first detect pain. The pressure will then continue to be increased until your tolerance limit, this cuff pressure will be recorded and the cuff will be immediately deflated. The same procedure will then be repeated on your dominant arm.

We will then analyse your neck movements while sitting using a sensor placed on your forehead and back of your neck.

We will then use a technique called “surface electromyography” where we will place sensors on your skin to record the activity of your neck muscles and we will ask you to perform a series of maximum and submaximal contractions of your neck muscles. This will also include contractions of your neck muscles where we ask you to hold the contractions as long as you can so that we can test your neck muscle endurance.

We will ask you to bring a singlet or sports bra for this session in order to perform movements in a comfortable way. For your comfort, you can request in advance a researcher of the same sex or gender to conduct the experimental session. This includes procedures like placing sensors on your skin (neck region) and preparing you for each test.

Furthermore, over the course of 12 months, we will ask you to fill out and submit an additional electronic questionnaire every two weeks. We will use it to collect data about the recurrence of painful episodes (Part-A) and other behavioural and environmental factors (Part-B) related to your physical activity, job environment, psychosocial condition, and sleep quality. The first two reminders will be sent via email, and the final reminder will be a telephone call from a researcher on our team.

If you experience a repeated episode of pain during this 12-month timeframe, we will invite you to attend the laboratory again for a 2-hour session to repeat the exact same measures taken at the baseline session. This is optional and you can decide whether or not you would like to participate for these additional measures.

How to participate and who should they contact?

If anyone would like to participate, they can contact Mr Benjamin Butler for more information.

Funding

The University of Birmingham is the sponsor for this study based in the United Kingdom. The Medical Research Council (MRC) is kindly funding this research.

There is no cost for this study, but you will be compensated £20 for attending the laboratory session in the form of an Amazon gift voucher. Moreover, you will receive an additional £10 for every two follow-up questionnaires completed. This compensation will also be in the form of electronic Amazon vouchers.

Ethical Approval

Ethical approval for this study was obtained from the University of Essex Research Ethics Committee (Reference: ETH2526-0098).

Information about the study

Information about the study: We're exploring how sleep and heart circadian rhythms, and mental health interact in daily life. To start, you'll complete a 40-minute online survey about your sleep, mental health, and physical activity. If eligible, you'll be invited to take part in a 4-week tracking study, where you can choose to wear one or more wearable devices during your everyday life - a Garmin smartwatch, a small ECG, and/or a light sensor necklace. You'll also complete two short daily surveys on your phone each day. Depending on which devices you choose, you'll receive £105-£175 for taking part. Your contribution will help us better understand how our sleep patterns, heart rhythms, and mental health influence each other from day to day.

Eligibility for taking part

• Survey: Open to everyone.

• Tracking study: Open to young adults aged 18-25 who:

Have a smartphone and access to WiFi

Do not take heart medication

Do not have a pacemaker

How do participants take part and who should they contact?

Complete the online survey

If you have any questions, please email the RESTEDScience team.

Ethical approval

This project has been reviewed by the Psychology Research Ethics Sub-committee at the University of Essex (Reference number. ETH2425-1798. Date of approval: 14/07/2025).

Data collection period

Ends May 2026

Information about the study

In this online study, you will watch a TikTok video and then answer questions about how it made you feel. You will also be asked about your attitudes towards certain social groups, as well as provide information about yourself. This is to allow us to test whether these factors influence people’s opinions. The study should take no more than 5 minutes to complete.

Eligibility/criteria for taking part

• Adults (aged 18+)

How do participants take part and who should they contact?

Click on link to be taken to survey site for more information and to participate.

Please feel free to contact the lead researcher, Dr Angela Meadows, with any questions you would like answered prior to taking part, or if you have any further questions after participating in the study.

Ethical approval

This project has been reviewed by the Psychology Research Ethics Sub-committee at the University of Essex (Reference number. ETH2526-0138. Date of approval: 30/9/2025).

Data collection period

Information about the study

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is one of the main causes of infertility, and infertility grief is an emotional response triggered by the inability to conceive. Yet, research has not yet explored the experience of infertility grief for people with PCOS-induced infertility. Therefore, this study would like to explore what factors are associated with infertility grief for people experiencing fertility difficulties as a result of having PCOS. Based on the current literature, the factors to be explored will be depression, anxiety, social support, internal and external shame. 

Eligibility/criteria for taking part

• Aged 18 and above
• Have a diagnosis of PCOS
• Experiencing fertility difficulties due to PCOS
• Not currently having fertility treatment
• Not had any previous pregnancies

What the participants have to do?

Participants will be asked to complete an online survey. This will involve reading some additional information about the project, then filling in questionnaires about infertility grief and factors of depression, anxiety, social support, internal shame, and external shame.

How do participants take part and who should they contact?

To take part in the study, participants should complete the online survey directly.

Should participants have any questions, they can contact the lead researcher Megan Burkinshaw.

Ethical approval

Ethical approval provided by the University of Sheffield on 24/02/25. Registration number: 230169270.

Date collection period

Currently the end date is November 2025. This may be extended to February 2026 depending on recruitment up until this time point.

Information about the study

This study aims to explore how trainees and early-career clinical psychologists experience and perceive working in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in the East of England. In response to national concerns around psychological workforce shortages, particularly within CAMHS, this small-scale qualitative project will explore how factors such as expectations, training, early workplace experiences, and regional context influence decisions to join or remain in CAMHS roles in the East of England.

Eligibility/criteria for taking part

Participants will eligible if they are:

• Early-career clinical psychologists or third-year trainee clinical psychologists
• Have worked in, or seriously considered working in, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) within the East of England. “Early-career” is defined as being within five years of qualification as a clinical psychologist.
• Participants must have relevant professional experience or engagement with CAMHS settings in the specified region, which includes areas such as Essex, Norfolk, Suffolk, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Luton, Peterborough, Milton Keynes, and Cambridge.
• Participants are not eligible if they are first- or second-year trainees, more than five
  years’ post-qualification or have no relevant experience or consideration of CAMHS work in the East of England.

What do the participants have to do?

Participants will be invited to take part in a one-to-one semi-structured interview (45–60 minutes). These will be conducted online and at a time that suits the participant. Interviews will explore participants’ personal reflections on role expectations, barriers and enablers to working within CAMHS, and career intentions.

How do participants take part and who should they contact?

Please contact Hannah Brock if you are interested in taking part.

Ethical approval

Reviewed by the Ethics Sub Committee 1 at the University of Essex and approved on 10th July 2025 by Matumo Ramafikeng. ERAMS project number: ETH2425-1079.

Data collection period

Until 10th March 2026

Information about the study

I am a second-year Trainee Clinical Psychologist at the University of Glasgow. As part of my doctoral thesis, I’m conducting research evaluating the impact associated with Experts by Experienced sharing their expertise to Doctorate in Clinical Psychology programmes in the UK.

Eligibility/criteria for taking part

In order to take part you must be enrolled on a Doctoral Clinical Psychology programme in the UK

What the participants have to do?

If you choose to participate, you will be asked to complete an electronic survey, asking about your experiences with training on a course that utilises expert by experience involvement. You will also be asked whether you wish to opt-in to participating in phase two of the research (an hour long interview). This is completely optional.

How do participants take part and who should they contact?

To take part:

Complete the online survey

 Study 2 - Interview study

• Open to all Trainee Clinical Psychologists
• Involves an online interview (up to one hour long) over Microsoft Teams

To register complete the pre-study survey (as above).

If you have any questions, please email Beatrice Hart - Lead Researcher

Ethical approval

This project has been approved by the University of Glasgow College of Medicine, Veterinary & Life Sciences Ethics Committee (Ref: 200240387).

Data collection period

August 2025 - November 2025

Information about the study

SWITCH is a three-year international research project launched in April 2025. It investigates how social wellbeing supports children’s mental health, development, and learning during the critical transitions into and during formal education.

SWITCH brings together experts from Germany, Austria, Sweden, and the UK. In the UK, research will be led by the SoNeAt Lab at the Department of Psychology, University of Essex (Colchester) under the direction of Dr Pascal Vrtička. The project focuses on children during their Reception year and follows them through to the end of Year 1.

The project has three core objectives:

1. To gather large-scale, cross-national data on children’s wellbeing and development.
2. To conduct in-depth studies with a smaller group of children, including lab-based assessments of relationships and social skills.
3. To generate long-term insights and policy recommendations that support successful transitions to and within school.

Eligibility/criteria for taking part

Participants must meet the following criteria:

• Children must be starting Reception in September 2025 (aged 4–5).
• Families must live in Eastern England.
• Both the participating parent and child must live at the same address.
• Both the participating parent and child must speak fluent English.
• The participating parent must be the child’s biological parent.
• Parent(s)/guardian(s) must be able to give informed consent.
• Families must be willing to take part in follow-up assessments during Year 1.

What the participants have to do?

Large-scale sample (approx. 1,000 families in the UK):

• Parents and teachers will complete online questionnaires on the child’s mental health, social wellbeing, relationships, and background.
• The parent questionnaire takes approximately 40 minutes, and the teacher questionnaire around 10–15 minutes.
• These questionnaires will be completed twice: once at the start of Reception and again at the end of Year 1.

In-depth subsample (approx. 80 children in the UK):

• Attend three lab-based sessions:

- One during Reception (approx. 2.5 hours) involving the participating parent and child.

- Two during Year 1:

- The first (approx. 2.5 hours) involving the participating parent, child, and a peer with their parent.

- The final session (approx. 1 hour) involving the participating parent and child.

• Children will complete structured activities to assess cognitive, social, and early academic skills.
• Participating parents and peers will take part in joint tasks to explore bio-behavioural and neural synchrony.
• Sessions will include functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) – a safe, non-invasive brain imaging method using light to monitor brain activity.

All sessions are designed to be child-friendly, engaging, and developmentally appropriate.

How do participants take part and who should they contact?

To express interest, parents can complete the survey online.

For more information, or for schools wishing to take part, please email SWITCH 

Funding

SWITCH is jointly funded by CHANSE (Collaboration of Humanities and Social Sciences in Europe) and NORFACE (New Opportunities for Research Funding Agency Cooperation in Europe), with a total funding amount of €1.5 million over three years.

Ethical approval

Approved by the University of Essex Research and Enterprise Office - Ethics application ETH2425-0370

Data collection period

The data collection period for this study is from April 2025 to March 2028.