The Marshall Behavioral Research Lab supports full-time Marshall faculty and doctoral students running studies in the lab, online, and in the field. Researchers outside Marshall may be sponsored by someone with lab privileges. There are no service fees for Marshall researchers. You pay only for participant compensation and, if you use them, research assistant wages. Most studies begin data collection within 2–3 weeks of the first consultation.
Start with a project consultation
Every study starts with a consultation. We review your design, recommend rooms, equipment, and participant pools, and build a plan for staffing, scheduling, and compensation. You get a single point of contact from setup through closeout.
To request one, email behaviorallab@marshall.usc.edu at least 2 weeks before you want to start (3–4 weeks for field studies). Include your IRB status, a short study description, equipment needs, and your budget and timeline. PhD students may request directly; we recommend letting your faculty advisor know.
Our Services
Course-credit pools, the 6,550+ member Compensated Pool, and online panels. | Book rooms in VPD, with trained RAs and a written session protocol. | Hire trained students for data collection, analysis, and more. |
Eye tracking, psychophysiology, and behavioral video analysis. | Online studies, piloting, stacked sessions, field research, and compensation. | Not sure where to start? Email us to set up a consultation. |
Planning Your Study
How a study runs
- Consultation: we discuss your design, session length, room and equipment needs, scheduling, and whether you need recruitment or compensation support.
- Reservation and materials: we reserve space, assign RAs, and set up equipment. You send your study link.
- Protocol and RA training: we write a protocol for the full session and train the RAs. We ask the PI to attend training to confirm procedures.
- Sessions: trained RAs handle greeting, consent, launch, proctoring, compensation, and logging. You don't need to be on site.
- Updates: the lab manager keeps you informed by email, and a shared tracker records every session by subject number.
- Closeout: you receive a final study report, your data is transferred to secure storage, and all compensation is reconciled to your account.
Before you start
- IRB approval: an active USC IRB approval number and expiration date are required before any study is posted or scheduled. Submit protocols through iSTAR.
- CITI training: all researchers must complete the applicable training required by the USC Human Research Protection Program.
- Study materials: a finalized Qualtrics link or study URL.
- Funding: a STARS or grant account for participant compensation and any RA wages.
Data handling
Study data is stored in a secure MBRL OneDrive environment through USC Marshall single sign-on, with access limited to the assigned RAs, the lab manager, and the PI. No data is kept on local lab machines. All RAs use lab-issued @marshall.usc.edu credentials.
Questions?
Email behaviorallab@marshall.usc.edu or call 213-821-9746.
Lab hours are Monday through Friday, 7 AM to 7 PM.