Participate in Research
Would you like to help us learn more about how people think, feel, and act and how to help them thrive? The projects listed below are looking for people to help. Please review the project descriptions to see if you or your family members may be eligible.
Notre Dame undergraduate students can sign up to participate in research through SONA.
While each research project is different, participating in research generally involves answering questionnaires and occasionally health evaluations, including measurements of blood pressure or collecting saliva samples. These evaluations are non-invasive, and every project element will be fully described to you throughout the process. You also always have the option to opt-out and discontinue participating in a study at any time.
Affect, Suicide, Self-Injury, and Social Triggers (ASSIST) Lab
Director: Brooke Ammerman
Who Participates?
Eligible participants are those who are 18+, own a smartphone, and have recently thought about suicide.
What’s Involved
Participants will complete a session with our research staff and then complete surveys on their phone, several times per day for approximately four weeks.
More info about Affect, Suicide, Self-Injury, and Social Triggers (ASSIST) Lab
BRAVE (Building Resilience After Violence Exposure) Research Lab
Director: Laura Miller-Graff
Who Participates?
Currently pregnant women who are at least 16 years of age and who have experienced abuse by a partner (physical, sexual or psychological) in the past 12 months.
What’s Involved
Participants will participate in a series of interviews (2-3.5 hours) over the course of approximately 1.5 years and will also receive a group-based support program (5 sessions).
More info about BRAVE (Building Resilience After Violence Exposure) Research Lab
Development & Psychopathology Laboratory
Director: Kristin Valentino
Who Participates?
Children aged 6-8 and their mothers
What’s Involved
Mothers and children will participate in two visits to the Shaw Center for Children & Families, spaced 1 year apart. Visits include survey questions, parent-child interaction tasks, child emotion tasks, and heartbeat measurement.
Family Studies Lab
Director: E. Mark Cummings
Who Participates?
For the Happy Families Project: single and two-parent families with at least one child between 5 and 17 years old. For SPARC: two-parent families that include a typically developing child between 10 and 18 years old and a child of any age with an intellectual or developmental disability.
What’s Involved
Participants will answer online survey questions, participate in Zoom visits with members of the project team, and receive information to review on their own. Participation occurs over the course of one year, with the majority of active participation occurring over the course of approximately four weeks, followed by brief sessions occurring 6-12 months later.
Laboratory for Psycho-oncology Research
Director: Thomas V. Merluzzi
Who Participates?
Persons with a diagnosis of cancer and persons in general who are 18 years of age or older
What’s Involved
Current projects involve completing online Qualtrics surveys. Please contact Prof. Merluzzi if you are interested in participating.
Latino Adolescents, Siblings, and Families Lab
Director: Jenny Padilla
Who Participates?
We are interviewing Mexican-origin mothers, fathers, and two adolescent siblings (between the ages of 12 and 18). If you live in St. Joseph County and are interested in participating, please contact VivimosUnidosND@gmail.com.
What’s Involved
Participation includes a 1-1.5 hour interview/survey.
More info about Latino Adolescents, Siblings, and Families Lab
Learning Analytics and Measurement in Behavioral Sciences (LAMBS)
Director: Ying (Alison) Cheng
Who Participates?
Exploring test mode effect (computerized adaptive testing vs. traditional test) on students' performance and anxiety
What’s Involved
Participants will take a statistics test and questionnaires online.
More info about Learning Analytics and Measurement in Behavioral Sciences (LAMBS)
Sleep, Stress, and Memory (SAM) Lab
Director: Jessica Payne
Who Participates?
Young and middle-aged adults from the community (up to age 59). Notre Dame students are encouraged to also participate.
What’s Involved
Depending on the study, participants will sleep in the lab and perform computer tasks and fill out questionnaires - payment up to $100 for participation
Suicide Prevention Initiative—Research, Intervention, & Training (SPIRIT)
Director: Theodore Beauchaine
Who Participates?
Adolescents, ages 13-17, who experience two or more of the following: trouble controlling emotions, social isolation, self-injury (e.g., cutting), impulsivity, depression, alcohol or other substance misuse.
What’s Involved
Participation occurs over the course of 13 months, with the majority of active participation occurring over the course of four weeks, followed by one session occurring 12 months later. Three visits to our clinic (beginning, 1-month, 1-year); all other participation is by phone app.
More info about Suicide Prevention Initiative—Research, Intervention, & Training (SPIRIT)
Visual Cognition Laboratory
Director: James R. Brockmole
Who Participates?
College-age adults
What’s Involved
Participants will generally complete a set of computer-based tasks. The majority of studies are less than 1 hour in duration.