Undergraduate Research Experience (SONA)

Option 1: Volunteer as a Research Participant

If you are 18 years of age or older, you are eligible to participate in studies (the age restriction is due to federal policy). Your participation in studies will give you a chance to have direct contact with research. 

Participation in studies at Texas State University that require 29 minutes or less are worth 1 credit; studies that take between 30-59 minutes are worth 2 credits; studies that take between 60-89 minutes are worth 3 credits; studies that take between 90-119 minutes are worth 4 credits. 

The number of credits will be noted in the study description that you see when you sign up. Only studies approved by the criminal justice department qualify for credit (they will be listed in SONA). In addition, paid studies cannot be used to satisfy the Research Requirement.

1. Visit the SONA website and log in with your Texas State credentials.
2. Choose the course for which you want your credits to apply.
3. Look up studies that fit your schedule.
4. Keep your own record of the studies you participate in. 
5. You may need to periodically check in to Sona to see what studies are available. Study availability will change throughout the semester at each researcher’s discretion. Do not wait until the last minute to complete studies as this will limit what options you have available.

Option 2: Research Article Summaries

As an alternative to participating in a research study, you may also demonstrate direct contact with research by submitting a written summary of a research article published in Volume 62 (any issue) of the journal Criminology or Volume 20 (any issue) of Journal of Experimental Criminology. Each 500-word written summary is worth 2 credits.

1. Download the article(s) from the online library database.
2. Read and summarize the article. Each summary should include a description of the research problem, the theory being tested, the methodology used, the findings, and how the study contributed to social science research. 
3. Papers should be written in complete sentences using your own words, avoiding direct quotes.
4. Each summary should be two typed, double spaced pages totaling approximately 500 words with one-inch margins and 12-point font.
5. Submit article summaries to sonasystem4cj@txstate.edu by the research experience deadline. You must include your name, class and section number, and your professor’s name in the subject line. You must also include the APA reference for the article you are summarizing in the body of the email.