For Instructors

How to utilize the MBL as an instructor

Any behavioral lab's success rests on obtaining qualified participants willing and able to dedicate their time and energy to studies. The Mendoza Behavioral Lab (MBL) is no different. For participants, we rely on Mendoza instructors to request or require their students to sign up through our system and come in for studies.

The MBL is easy to use. Instructors merely assign their students to participate in research at the MBL. At the end of the semester, each instructor receives a specialized report detailing each student's research participation credits. Instructors determine the value of each research credit for their class grading. Please see the tab For Students for more details regarding the participant process.

Insert MBL text into your syllabus (see the Suggested MBL syllabus text below).
If offering extra credit to your students, notify the lab program director before the semester starts to add your class to SONA.
Plan to familiarize your students with the MBL section of your syllabus. You may also invite the program director to give a brief presentation to your section(s) at the beginning of the term.
Forward any student emails regarding the MBL or their participation to the lab staff at mbl@nd.edu, who will directly respond to the student, record the results, and inform you of the outcome.
Receive the end-of-term research credit allocations for students in each section separately, in order of your class roster(s) for ease of use.
Assign your desired weighting of research credits to students in your grade book.

Mendoza research requirement

In fall 2016, the Mendoza College of Business instituted a research requirement for students enrolled in Principles of Marketing (now Foundations of Marketing) and Principles of Management. As of fall 2023, the requirement includes the Foundations of Leadership and Foundations of Strategy courses.

A student in one of the Principles classes must earn two research credits for that class during the semester. A student in both Principles classes must earn four research credits concurrently for the semester (2 credits per class). Students enrolled in the mod/half-semester Foundations of Leadership and Foundations of Strategy courses will complete one research credit in each course. Research credits cannot be used for more than one class.

Instructors should include the suggested text that follows in their syllabi, with modifications as needed:

Suggested MBL syllabus text

Students must fulfill two credits of research activity in each three-credit Principles of Management and Foundations of Marketing class and one credit in the Foundations of Strategy and Foundations of Leadership courses through one of the three options below.

Option 1: Research Studies at the MBL

Students serve as subjects in academic research projects through the Mendoza Behavioral Lab (MBL). Typical experiments include surveys, negotiations, and choice studies. Studies that run 30 minutes in duration earn one credit toward the requirement. Studies that run 45-60 minutes in duration are worth two credits. Participation can help students become better critics of research discussed in class, allowing them to refine their critical thinking skills. Also, students receive exposure to the type of research being conducted by their professors, which aids in furthering the knowledge that is a critical component of a great course.

A SONA account is required to sign up for studies. Lab staff will set up new accounts and update existing accounts with course information for students who participate in studies for research credit. New accounts and updates will be made after the last date for class changes. Students can use their campus NetID and password to log in to SONA.

Students without a SONA account and participating in studies for extra credit should log in at https://mcob.sona-systems.com and request an account. Those with existing SONA accounts must update their accounts to include the course for which they are participating in research for extra credit. For assistance adding a course in SONA, contact the behavioral lab staff at mbl@nd.edu.

Option 2: Research Review

A research review involves reading a scientific article related to the course and writing a one-page summary discussing how the research findings apply to organizations. The review must be single-spaced, formatted in 12-point Times New Roman font with one-inch margins. Students may select any article published within the last three years in an academic journal designated by the professor or find one using the faculty-approved journals list in the library guide. Check the MBL's Canvas site for formatting instructions and a research review example. For assistance locating a journal, please "Ask a Business Librarian" at the Thomas Mahaffey Jr. Business Library on the lower level of the Mendoza College of Business.

Please note the article review is worth one credit. Submit your research review using the Qualtrics form to the Mendoza Behavioral Lab for grading. Research reviews are due by the last lab day at 5:00 pm.

Option 3: Lab Study and Research Review

Students needing two research credits may participate in one 30-minute lab study and submit one research review for credit. Students who complete one credit toward this option will not satisfy the research requirement.

All questions about the research requirement should be sent to the Mendoza Behavioral Lab staff at mbl@nd.edu.

Your students and the MBL

We believe the MBL is of high value to Notre Dame students in providing them with hands-on exposure to research processes in a behavioral lab environment. Through the MBL, students may participate in studies, learn about current projects, engage further in research as paid Research Assistants (RAs), and connect with expert Mendoza faculty members in their business discipline areas.

You and the MBL

Thank you for your confidence in the MBL. Please contact the lab program director if you have questions or want to learn more. Feedback from instructors helps the MBL spirit of continuous improvement, so we welcome your suggestions.