Before coming to McGill, I was of course interested in psychology, but there were no way for me to participate in a psychological test. Especially since I am from South Korea, psychological testing is not widely spread yet there. When I first went into my Introduction to Psychology class, my professor back then, Professor McDougall, told us that there will be someone coming into class to explain what the ‘Human Participant pool’ is, and that we can get free credit in exchange of our participation.

McGill Psychology Human Participant pool is basically asking students to take part in an ongoing study, conducted by graduate students or even professors at McGill, in the need of subjects for a better quality study. For an hour of participation, one recieves 1 credit for a course. You go into a study room at the signed date and time, listen to the instructions, do as they ask you to do (fill out an online questionnaire, press a button for this situation, and the other button for another situation as fast as you can, etc.). Then, you come home with a debriefing form, and write a report on the study you particpated. It’s just that simple and easy to participate in a psychological test.

Some people say that participating the Human Participant pool is a waste of time, only receiving one or two percent for a course. However, in my opinion, this kind of participation is not focused on the fact that students are getting some amount of credit, but it’s more of the experience and exposure one gets from participating in a psychological study. Where else would you be able to access this easily to a psychology test, ask questions to the experimenters, and take part in it? Where else would you be able to get experience on psychological testing? Some would like to get more and more experience before they go into their graduate studies. McGill Psychology Human Participant pool is a fabulous way to get the ‘gist’ of what you will be doing if you go further into your studies.

Instead of complaining for the tiny amount of credit you get from participating an hour, the time would be more efficiently used and the time spent would be more worthwhile then doing nothing. Anyway, I believe that something is better than nothing.