For Students
How to sign up for studies in the MBL for students/participants
The Mendoza Behavioral Lab (MBL) provides students with hands-on exposure to the research processes of a business behavioral lab environment. At 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.
To sign up for studies in the MBL, students must have a SONA account. Lab staff will create new accounts and update existing accounts for students enrolled in courses with the research requirement. Students may use their campus NetID and password when accounts are active to log in.
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 an account should add the extra credit course in SONA at first login. Contact the behavioral lab staff at mbl@nd.edu for assistance adding a course.
Assigning the correct course to each study is extremely important to receive credit for participating. Reassigning research credits between courses is not permitted beyond the last lab day. One study cannot be used for more than one class, and online studies outside the lab do not count toward the research requirement.
Research credits and allocation
Students earn one research credit for participating in 30-minute research studies and two for 45- to 60-minute studies. Grading is at the faculty instructor’s discretion, so the application of such credits may vary across classes. Research credit should reflect a meaningful outcome for the students in each class.
All students enrolled in Principles of Marketing (now Foundations of Marketing) and Principles of Management at the Mendoza College of Business must satisfy a research requirement for two credits per class. As of fall 2023, students enrolled in Foundations of Leadership and Foundation of Strategy must complete one research credit. The three options to fulfill this requirement are explained below.
Option 1: Research Participation
Students serve as participants in academic research projects through the 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 conducted by their professors, which aids in furthering their knowledge and is a critical component of a great course.
Option 2: Research Review
A research review involves reading an article from an academic publication related to the course and writing a one-page summary discussing how the research findings apply to organizations. The review must be single-spaced 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 use the library guide. For assistance locating a journal, contact a librarian at the Thomas Mahaffey Jr. Business Library on the lower level of Mendoza.
Please note that one article review is worth one research credit. Therefore, two reviews are required to meet the research requirement for three-credit Mendoza courses. Research reviews are due before or on the last lab day by 5:00 pm.
Option 3: Lab Study and Research Review
Students may participate in a 30-minute lab study and submit one research review for credit. Students enrolled in three-credit Mendoza courses who complete one credit toward this option will not satisfy the research requirement.
Process overview
The MBL uses SONA Systems software to post available studies and invite student participation. When students sign up for a study, they must select one course to earn credit. Students may not assign credit from a study to more than one class.
The MBL seeks to minimize the administrative burden on instructors teaching courses with the research requirement. To this end, the MBL program director and research assistants handle most administrative work, so instructors’ time to record credit from studies is minimal. The lab tracks earned research credits, compiles, and sends participation reports to instructors near the end of each semester.
All questions about the research requirement should be directed to lab staff at mbl@nd.edu.
