Canadian Paid Psychology Studies

Paid psychology studies are a great way to make some extra cash without doing a whole lot of work. Of course, it helps to know the basics, so this friendly guide will clue you in on what you can expect from a typical paid psychology study.

What is a Paid Study?

Many universities, colleges and academic research institutions conduct graduate student and professorial studies that require extreme statistical accuracy. This essentially means that the only way they can get good results is to test their theories on a wide number of people.

Of course, with psychology studies, the tests usually only involve question and answer sessions or simple activities, but it’s important to get a lot of data nonetheless. In order to make things worth the test subjects’ while, these researchers typically pay a one-time cash stipend to each participant.

Are the Studies Difficult to Participate In?

As long as you meet the requirements of the study, you’ll have no issues participating, at least in terms of what you have to do. Remember, these studies are usually designed to see how people react to certain situations, not to put them to work for the researchers. That being said, there are certain studies you may want to stay away from in favor of others.

Some studies deal with very sensitive topics. Many studies, for example, are designed to help researchers figure out how people deal with being abused as children or how other difficult life situations affect the way individuals grow and develop. If you participate in such a study, you may be asked to recall painful memories from your past or view evocative images. The good thing is that studies always give you a chance to opt out if it’s too much to handle. Even better, you’ll never be surprised because study descriptions usually let you know what to expect in advance.

How Much Will I Get Paid?

Pay rates for studies vary. In some cases, you’ll be paid about $5-10 for 30 minutes of taking a simple fill-in-the-blank test or being asked to memorize and recite a few foreign language words. In other instances, you may make as much as $30 for an hour’s worth of testing or upwards of $100 dollars for answering a simple lifestyle question once a day for a week.

One factor to consider is the fact that you will rarely be asked to perform physical labor or do office tasks. If you are, your performance won’t have anything to do with how much you get paid. Studies that need more participants often pay each one less money, but all stipends are agreed upon at the beginning of the study and paid in full immediately afterwards.

Am I Eligible for All Studies?

It depends on the study. Some school departments only want students to participate as test subjects. Others allow members of the public to join in.

In the case of specialty studies, you may have to meet certain requirements. For instance, a hypothetical study which was trying to determine the effect of gender discrimination on women in the workplace might only ask for working professionals or women. You have to read the study details to find out.

Why Should I Participate (Besides the Easy Pay)?

Paid psychology studies are extremely important, not only because they help graduate students pass their research projects, but because they lead to important scientific advances. Even if scientists and great thinkers have good theories about the way the human mind works, they need to be able to prove them. Studies that actually interact with real live people allow them to gather a sufficient amount of information to determine whether or not their assumptions were correct.

Who in Canada Offers Psychology Studies?





There are a few Canadian universities who have research departments who have studies open to the public. Below are a few. If you have more to add to this list, please contact us.

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