Behavioural Science

Laboratory
Manual

Table of contents

Table of contents........................................................................................................... - 2 About the laboratory...................................................................................................... - 3 Prior to data collection................................................................................................... - 4 1.

Ethical approval................................................................................................... - 4 -

2.

Lab accessibility.................................................................................................. - 4 -

3.

DR@W: Booking the lab and Participant recruitment...........................................- 4

To register a new experiment...........................................................................- 4 -

To book experimental sessions.........................................................................- 5 -

To assign participants.......................................................................................- 5 -

4.

Financial necessities............................................................................................ - 5

Temporary cash float........................................................................................ - 5 -

Project form..................................................................................................... - 5 -

5.

Laboratory preparation........................................................................................ - 6

Essential documents........................................................................................- 6 -

Computer login................................................................................................ - 6 -

Lab equipment................................................................................................. - 6 -

Lab software.................................................................................................... - 6 -

Data collection............................................................................................................... - 8 1.

Orbit Net use....................................................................................................... - 8

2.

Some useful functions......................................................................................- 8 Ethical considerations......................................................................................... - 9 -

Voluntary participation.....................................................................................- 9 -

Right to withdraw............................................................................................. - 9 -

Protection from harm.......................................................................................- 9 -

Informed consent............................................................................................. - 9 -

Confidentiality and Anonymity.......................................................................- 10 -

3.

Cash handling.................................................................................................... - 10 -

4.

Unexpected problems........................................................................................ - 10 -

Post-data collection..................................................................................................... - 11 1.

Lab maintenance...............................................................................................- 11 -

2.

DR@W............................................................................................................... - 11 -

3.

Financial necessities..........................................................................................- 11 -

4.

Data storage...................................................................................................... - 12 -

About the laboratory

The Behavioural Science Laboratory consists of 27 networked

computers, screened off from each other, so that participants can run
experiments independently; or can take part in two or multi-player
games. Participants can be recruited from the University of Warwicks
SONA System (https://warwick.sona-systems.com/). The lab also
conducts large numbers of on-line experimental studies.

Contact:
Laboratory Manager

Alexander Mushore

Behavioural Science
Group

Warwick Business
School

Coventry, CV4 7AL

United Kingdom

Email:

IT Developer

Alexander.Mushore@wbs.ac.uk

Tyson Hayes
Behavioural Science Group
Warwick Business School
Coventry, CV4 7AL
United Kingdom
Email: Tyson.Hayes@wbs,ac,uk

 Prior to data collection

1.Ethical approval
All research conducted in the laboratory needs to be ethically
approved.

Decision Research at Warwick (DR@W) Umbrella Ethical

Approval

Some studies run in the laboratory are covered by the DR@W

Umbrella Ethical Approval. Only those researchers who applied for
the approval at the first place and whose experiment is within the
criteria specified in the approval can use this route of ethical
approval1.

HSSREC Ethical Approval

The remainder of the studies run in the laboratory will be

approved by the HSSREC Committee (Humanities and Social
Sciences Research Ethics Committee). The application for ethical
approval2 has to be signed by the Chair of Department. Completed
applications, an information sheet template, consent form template
and copies of any relevant authorisations should be submitted in
both hard copy and email format to Debbie Bennett3. This should be
done after funding has been awarded4 and at least two weeks in
advance of the next Committee meeting5. Applicants are notified of

1 To apply, please click on DR@W Umbrella Page on

http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/cross_fac/draw/experiments/ethics/
2 An up-to-date version of the application can be found on
http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/services/rss/researchgovernance/research_code_of_practice/r
esearchethicscommittees/hssrec/apply/

3 Debbies office is located in the University House - Research Support Services,

D.L.Bennett@warwick.ac.uk

4 If the project is internally funded or self-funded, the submission can occur at any time
5 The Committee meeting schedule can be found on
http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/services/rss/researchgovernance/research_code_of_practice/r
esearchethicscommittees/hssrec/meetings

the Committees decision in writing and can appeal should their

application be rejected.

2.Lab accessibility

At the moment, the lab can be accessed via a card reader

system or a code entered on the keypad located next to the lab door. The
card access is usually given to permanent staff and PhD students,
whereas the code is given to temporary staff, Undergraduate and Master
students. The researchers who were given the card access can enter the
lab as well as both entrances of the WBS building (Scarman Road) using
their university cards. Those who wish to be given the access should
contact the Lab Manager. After leaving the lab, the door locks
automatically.

3.Booking the lab and Participant recruitment

using the Warwick Research Participation
(SONA) System
The lab is reserved and participants for experiments are usually
recruited via the Warwick SONA System6. Our SONA system
(https://warwick.sona-systems.com/) is an interdisciplinary experimental
management system which is utilised by researchers associated with
Decision Research at Warwick (DR@W) and the Psychology Department.
At the present time, there are over 1,500 student participants registered
on the database.

To register a new experiment

Go to the Add a new study part of the log-in page and click
on the relevant experiment (Standard Study, Two Part Study, Online
Survey Study or Online External Study). Fill in all the details, noting
that all of basic information apart from the ethical approval details is
visible to participants. Do not omit to state the ethical approval
number and ensure your study is inactive when awaiting ethical
approval. Select whether you have any further eligibility
requirements (e.g. study pre-requisites or disqualifiers). Lastly, fill
out the shared comments part to allow fellow researchers to see
information about your study (e.g. research proposal link, further
information regarding the experiment) in case they need to omit
your participants from their research due to similarities in research
or if your study involved deception. Then click next.

6 To register, click on Sign Up on

http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/cross_fac/draw/experiments/sign_up/

 To book the lab

Click on view/administer timeslots and click Add a

Timeslot. Select the date, start time, specify the number of
participants required, select WBS Scarman Road Laboratory (B2.27)
from the dropdown list of laboratories 7 and click add timeslot. Prior
to booking a slot you can have a look at the availability of the lab by
clicking view schedule (below location). The schedule will show you
the bookings for the lab in 2 week intervals. Should you wish to book
multiple slots you can also do so by clicking add multiple timeslots
via the view/administer timeslots page.

To assign and contact participants

Once your study is active on the system and there are no prescreen, pre-requisite, or disqualifier restrictions, all participants will
be able to view and sign up for your study. If you have absolutely no
restrictions for the study, you can contact the administrator to have
your study featured in an email to go out to participants regarding
the studies occurring that week. However, if you have pre-screen
criteria and you need to restrict it to a subset of participants taking
part due to their student status (e.g. only require undergraduate
students) you can assign and invite these participants utilising the
pre-screen function on SONA. In order to do so, select View/Modify
Restrictions next to Pre-screen Restrictions. Then select the criteria
you wish to set and click set restrictions, once you have done this
select all the options you would like to have enforced. After doing so,
go back into the View/Modify Restrictions page and you should be
able to see the amount of participants that meet this criteria and an
option to [INVITE QUALIFIED PARTICIPANTS] to your research. The
email will have default information filled in such as the name of the
experiment, the researcher name and the amount of slots available.
Ask the lab manager for a template email to send, as it is important
to include the study name, length of participation, compensation
amount, potential time slots and location. If the study is to take
place in the WBS Laboratory, you will need to send them to expect a
code to enter the building which the lab manager can provide you
with.

7 For the full list of DR@W laboratories, go to

http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/cross_fac/draw/experiments/resources/
6

4.Financial necessities
This section applies to WBS staff only. The Temporary Cash Float needs to
be submitted to the WBS finance department five working days before the
cash is required.8 Researchers can pick up the cash on the date specified on
the Temporary Cash Float form from the Accounts Receivable office located in
the University House9.

5.Laboratory preparation

Essential documents
Please, ensure that you have a sufficient number of receipt copies,
information sheets and consent forms ready prior to participants
arrival. This is to comply with correct ethical procedure.

Computer login
The laboratory has 26 numbered computers for participants and one
computer for a researcher. The researchers computer is located
next to a computer number 20. All machines require no login.
Researchers are advised to prepare all computers in advance rather
than leaving participants to do it themselves. This is to ensure that
data collection starts on time and every issue can be resolved well
in advance. Should any technical issue arise, please use the phone
located next to the lab door and call the IT Helpdesk on ext. 22522.

Lab equipment

Projector: If you wish to use the projector, please contact the

lab manager
Till: A lockable till is placed below the desk next to the entrance.
A key for the till is in the lock. The till is equipped with a sound
system to notify a researcher, especially when it is opened
without his/her knowledge
Stationery: A wide range of stationery is available in the main
desk compartments.

8 This form can be found on

http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/wbs/subjects/bsci/temporary_float_application.docx

9 For the Accounts Receivable office opening times go to

http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/services/finance/aboutthefo/fosections/fincon/ar

Lab software

Laboratory Manager: This software is used to control the

machines in the lab. It is used to startup and shutdown all clients
and open and close the specified software simultaneously on all
machines. When the software is launched you will see all of the
client machines listed. Laboratory Manager uses a colour code
system to display system status. Black means the machine is
off. Amber means the machine is on but the Laboratory
Manager client is not running (in this mode only the shutdown
command will work). Green means the software has full control
over the clients.
Block Web software: This manually disables the Internet for a
particular session. The software is installed on the researchers
computer. The shortcut can be found on the desktop. The
program lists all the computers in the lab by their numbers. The
ticked checkbox indicates that a computer is connected to the
system; hence all lab computers should be selected by default.
Further there are two buttons: Disable Web and Enable Web.
By clicking on the Disable Web button, all lab computers
except the researchers are disconnected from the Internet. Any
browser window open at the time of executing this function
closes automatically. Internet access will be disabled until the
Enable Web button is selected or the PC is re-booted.
Web Control software: This program is primarily used to
monitor Internet use whilst working on online surveys in
Qualtrics. Similarly to Block Web, Web Control, which can be
found on the desktop, lists all lab computers and contains two
buttons: Monitor Web and Dont Monitor Web. By default,
Internet activities are not monitored. If the Monitor Web button
is selected, only Internet Explorer will work on the participants
computers and the software starts monitoring every website
opened. If the website address does not contain
www.qualtrics.com, the software automatically logs the open
website into the file adminlog.txt. This file can be found on the
researchers computer on the D: drive. In addition to this
function, a pop up message appears on the researchers
computer informing him/her should any participant view a
website unrelated to an online survey.
Net Orbit software: This software is installed on the
researchers computer and located on the desktop. It can be
used to gain remote control over the participants computers.
8

The software is described in a greater detail in the Data

collection section.
WinXP Secure: An old reliable piece of software, this is used to
log all computer activity to
\\atlas.wbs.ac.uk\HBL\WinXPSecure\Logs including any window
change. The researchers machine automatically has access to
this log directory. All logs should be removed prior to the
experiment so data analysis is made simpler after the
experiment.
Qualtrics: Warwick business school has a licence for Qualtrics,
surveying software. If you are a WBS staff member or student,
you can register10. Qualtrics provides a wide range of online
tutorials and email/phone support. A comprehensive summary of
all functions can be found on the Qualtrics University website.
Other available software: Microsoft Office package, Adobe
Reader, z-Tree11, MatLab, X-Trader, X-Chat2, Netlogo, Java
environment.
Available browsers: Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Firefox

Data collection

10 To register, follow the instructions on:

http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/wbs/central/issu/help/kb/software/non_microsoft_apps
/qualtrics/
11 If z-tree is used, the name of the Licensor (the University of Zurich, Institute for
Empirical Research in Economics, represented by Sally Gschwend) as well as the name
z-Tree has to be mentioned, and to cite the following article in all publications in which
results of experiments conducted with the Software are published: Urs Fischbacher, zTree: Zurich Toolbox for Ready-made Economic Experiments, Experimental Economics
10(2), 171-178.

1.Orbit Net use12

Orbit Net software includes many functions which researchers
might find useful. The software is installed on the researchers
computer and can be applied to any of the participants computers.
As Orbit Net does not connect the computers to the researchers
computer by default, it is necessary to do so manually. This is
executed by right clicking on each listed computer and selecting the
connect option.

Some useful functions

Hide/show desktop icon

LOCATION: Desktop ribbon, Icon Control group
FUNCTION: hides/shows the desktop icons on the selected
remote desktop
Hide/show desktop taskbar
LOCATION: Desktop ribbon, Icon Control group
FUNCTION: hides/shows the taskbar on the remote desktop
File manager
LOCATION: Control/Manage ribbon, Control Program group
FUNCTION: launches a file manager window that allows a
researcher to move through the remote desktop file system and
copy files to or from the remote machine
Lock/unlock system
LOCATION: Control/Manage ribbon, Keyboard and Mouse
Management group
FUNCTION: locks/unlocks the remote keyboard
Lock/unlock mouse
LOCATION: Control/Manage ribbon, Keyboard and Mouse
Management group
FUNCTION: locks/unlocks the remote mouse
Chat
LOCATION: Messaging ribbon, Messaging Operations group
FUNCTION: establishes a chat session with the selected
remote desktop
Send Message
LOCATION: Messaging ribbon, Messaging Operations group
FUNCTION: sends a message to the selected remote desktop
but does not establish a two-way chat session
Send Public Message

12 For the detailed description of Orbit Net software, please read the user guide on
http://www.net-orbit.com/userguide.html

10

LOCATION: Messaging ribbon, Messaging Operations group

FUNCTION: sends a message to some or all remote desktops
at once
Web
LOCATION: Messaging ribbon, Web group
FUNCTION: launches the default Web browser on the remote
desktop with a specified URL displayed
Keylogs
LOCATION: Activity ribbon, Logs group
FUNCTION: shows the keystroke log from the selected remote
desktop
URL logs
LOCATION: Activity ribbon, Logs group
FUNCTION: shows the URL log from the selected remote
desktop, listing each URL entered into a Web browser on that
desktop

2.Ethical considerations

Voluntary participation

All participants have the right not to participate in any

experiment and this right must be respected. Students and others in
a dependent relationship with investigators must be assured that
any decision not to participate will not prejudice their academic or
other progress in any way.

Right to withdraw

Each participant must have the right to withdraw easily from

the experiment whenever and for whatever reason without
explanation or penalty.

Protection from harm

Participants and researchers staff must be fully informed in

advance of, and protected from any physical, psychological, social,
legal and economic harm at all times during the experiment. In
addition, researchers should also attempt to avoid harm to subjects
wider family, kin and community. Should any adverse reaction or
event occur, the researcher must report this immediately via email
to sona.experiments@warwick.ac.uk. The report should describe
fully the adverse reaction or event, the action taken and the date,
time and place of the incident.

11

 Consent form and debriefing form

Researchers must ensure participants are fully informed about

all aspects of the research project that might reasonably be
expected to influence willingness to participate. If the project is
approved by the DR@W Umbrella Ethical Approval, the consent and
debriefing form is not necessary unless the project involves
deception. However the project which was not approved by the
DR@W Umbrella Ethical Approval requires written consent from all
participants prior to commencement of the experimental session
and a debriefing form if the project involves deception.

Confidentiality and Anonymity

As per DR@W and University regulations, researchers are

required to uphold this code of conduct with regard to personal
information:
At the beginning of the experiment, each participant has to be
assigned a unique numerical identification number
The study data has to include only the identification number for
each participant
Any personal information collected by the researchers (names
and/or other identifying information) has to be kept separate
from the study data and never shared with third parties
Participants have to be made fully aware that the data collected
will not be linked to personally identifiable information
Personal information must not be used for any other purpose
than managing participation in authorised DR@W research
sessions and projects

3.Cash handling
The following applies to WBS staff only:

Every time the cash for the day is picked up, a WBS form needs
to be signed
Receipts need to be filled in non-black ink
Returned receipts and the remainder of cash have to equal to the
sum which was given out by the WBS Finance Office. All
differences in the balance need to be repaid by the researcher
responsible for running the experiment
Money not used on a particular day is stored at the Finance Office
(WBS, first floor)
Money over nights/weekends is also stored at the Finance Office
(WBS, first floor)
Researchers are responsible for the remainder of money over the
night if it is not returned to the Finance Office (e.g. a session
finishes late)
12

4.Unexpected problems

Technical issues

Should there be any technical problems during data collection,

please call the IT developer.

Disruptive participants
If a subject causes trouble and is sent away, his/her name
should be noted, and then sent to the SONA System Administrators
(sona.experiments@warwick.ac.uk) to exclude him/her from further
experiments.

Post-data collection

1.Lab maintenance
It is every researchers responsibility to leave the lab in the same
state as it was before the study commenced. Specifically, all
computers should be shut-down, windows closed, all stationery
collected and returned to its designated place, and no money left in
the till.

2.Warwicks SONA System

After data collection, it is essential to record all participants who
showed for the experiment13. In order to do so, sign in to your SONA
account; go to My Studies and then View Your Uncredited
Timeslots. You should be met with a list of participants names and
the ability to Grant Credit. Beside each participant name, record
whether they Participated (showed up and participated), were an
Unexcused No-show (they were late and did not participate or did
not show up to the experiment) or that they were an Excused No
Show (they cancelled or alerted you of their absence or they showed
up but did not participate due to being chosen as a reserve
participant). With the latter two it is important to make a note of why
they are being put as a no show. It is important to complete this after
each experimental session has taken place, the system will send you
13 According to the our regulations, if a participant does not show up without prior
cancellation for three experiments, his/her account is deactivated

13

reminders when you have not credited participants for having taken
part.

3.Financial necessities
The following applies to WBS staff only. The remainder of the cash
and receipts have to be returned to Accounts Receivable by the date
specified on the Temporary Cash Float form14.

4.Data storage
All signed consent forms must be kept securely by the lead
researcher of any experimental project for a period of no less than 10
years, as per University guidelines. All personal data must never be
disclosed to third parties. Researchers are also advised to keep the
copies of all participants receipts and other financial forms used in the
experiment.

14 For the Accounts Receivable office opening times go to

http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/services/finance/aboutthefo/fosections/fincon/ar
14