PsychMate Sales FAQ
- What version of PsychMate is available?
- How do I place an order for PsychMate?
- Why would I want to buy just a Student Activation Code?
- Why would I want to buy just the Student Guide?
- Why would I want to purchase through PST versus the bookstore?
- Is there a Site License option for PsychMate?
- What are the benefits of a site license?
Machine Requirements and Instructor's Kits
- What are the machine requirements?
- How can I receive a demonstration version of PsychMate?
- What is included with the Instructor's Kit?
PsychMate Features
- Can the instructor install the PsychMate Student software on machines within their lab using the student CD they receive with their Instructor's Kit?
- Can students share software and manuals?
- When does the Student Activation Code expire?
- Can the students use the software for more than one semester/class?
- Is it possible for students to share machines in order to run their PsychMate experiments (e.g., Instructor has two classes of 20 students each and a lab of 20 machines).
Submit and Retrieve Data
- How is the student's data submitted?
- How does PsychMate protect the anonymity of students when submitting data?
- How does the instructor retrieve students' data?
Experiment Editor
- Can students create their own experiments?
- Can students modify the PsychMate experiments?
- Are there restrictions on the types of experiments students can design, or the types of modifications that can be made to existing PsychMate experiments?
- Why aren't all of the PsychMate experiments included as templates in PEAK?
Why would I want to buy just the Student Guide?
If your department/instructor has purchased a site license, books must be purchased separately either by the department or by the student.
Additionally, while a Student Activation Code is necessary to use the PsychMate Student software some instructors or departments have expressed an interest in purchasing books to loan to the students. This would require the student to purchase only the Student Activation Code, keeping the cost to student as low as possible. The Student Guide Only option also provides for circumstances in which the instructor would like to put the book on reserve in the library, or for students who have misplaced their Student Guide.
Why would I want to purchase through PST versus the bookstore?
PST provides multiple purchasing options in order to provide students and instructors with flexibility in purchasing PsychMate. PST charges the same prices whether the purchase is made by the instructor, the individual student, or the bookstore. However, bookstores typically mark-up the price to students by 20-25%. The only additional cost when purchasing directly from PST is the cost of shipping.
Is there a Site License for PsychMate?
Yes! Site Licenses are now available! An institution/department may purchase a site license based on the maximum number of active accounts expected during the license period (1 year). For example, if 50 students are expected to use PsychMate over the course of the year, but only 25 students will be enrolled in a class at a time (e.g., a research methods class run during the fall and spring terms with enrollment of 25 students each term), the department could purchase a site license for 25 active users. Site licenses are ideal for institutions having multiple classes using PsychMate at non-overlapping times.
What are the benefits of a site license?
- Direct cost to student is decreased
For site licenses, the software and book purchases are separated, with the department/institution purchasing the software. Book purchases may also be assumed by the department, or may be assigned to the student (reducing the direct cost to the student to $25.00). Site licenses are shipped with two copies of the Student Guide so that instructors may place the textbook on reserve, or otherwise make it available to their students, making additional book purchases optional. - Cost per student is decreased
The cost for a site license is determined by the maximum number of users expected at any one time, and is set at $20.00 per active account*. For example, if 50 students are expected to use PsychMate over the course of the year, but only 25 students will be enrolled in a class at a time (e.g., a research methods class run during the fall and spring terms with enrollment of 25 students each term), the department could purchase a site license for 25 active users. In this example, the site license would be purchased for $500.00 ($20.00 x 25 active accounts = $500.00), making the cost per student just $10.00.
* An "active account" is defined as a student enrolled in a class using PsychMate that has not yet reached its end date. - Streamlining/Convenience/Simplicity
Classes created using a site license do not require the student to obtain or enter a Student Activation Code when joining the class.
- Cognitive Neuroscience category including Brain Tutor and BrainExaminer
- Psychology Experiment Authoring Kit (PEAK)
- New easy to use login procedure
- Expanded library of experiments
- New licensing structure
- Expanded Instructor summary
- Printed full color documentation
- New! Website resources for students and instructors!
- PsychMate is compatible with current-generation Microsoft Windows 2000, XP, and Vista. PsychMate is not compatible with Macintosh OS.
- Internet Explorer 6.0 or newer
- Instructor and student software must be installed on a machine, cannot run from CD
- Sound Card recommended, not required
- Internet connection required for account and data submission
- Instructor software requires Excel 97 or greater
- 250 MB
- CD-ROM
How can I receive a demonstration version of PsychMate?
Click here to download the PsychMate demo.
What is included with the Instructor's Kit?
The instructor's kit includes the complete student software & User's Guide plus Instructor materials which includes a number of analyses that will allow you to generate lists, tables and plots. With your Instructor's Kit you will receive an activation code that will allow you to create a class online for your students to join.
PsychMate requires you to install the software on a machine in order to run experiments.
How does PsychMate differ from MEL Lab?
- While MEL Lab was a MS-DOS product, PsychMate is compatible with Windows, and runs via an experiment launcher offering a modern and easy to use graphical interface.
- Contains many MEL Lab experiments that were cited as being the most frequently used experiments.
- No ANOVA, however data can be exported to other statistical packages. This feature is planned for future version.
- Enhanced student browser interface with superior graphics.
- Secure submission and retrieval of data via web site.
- Create class presentation materials of analysis output quickly and easily!
Yes, the instructor receives a copy of the PsychMate Student software, which may be used to install PsychMate on any number of machines. We encourage the installation of PsychMate in various labs and locations in order to make the software accessible to your students. Purchase of a Student Activation Code is required for each student wishing to access the software.
Can students share software and manuals?
The PsychMate software CD and Student Guide are not unique to a specific student. However, each student requires a unique Student Activation Code in order to create their account and join a class.
When does the Student Activation Code expire?
Can the students use the software for more than one semester/class?
Yes, the purchase of a Student Activation Code permits use of the PsychMate Student software for 1 year, or in up to 5 classes, whichever occurs first. However, students must be enrolled in an active class (i.e., a class that has not reached the End Date set by the instructor) in order to login to the PsychMate Student software.
A user with an active account (i.e., enrolled in an active class) may login on any machine on which PsychMate is installed. However, purchase of a Student Activation Code is required for each student wishing to access the software. We encourage the installation of PsychMate in various labs and locations in order to make the software accessible to your students.
How is the student's data submitted?
Join a Class: Each PsychMate Student Guide and software includes a Student Activation Code which is required in order to join a class. The Student Activation Code allows you to join up to 5 classes within a single year. In addition to the Student Activation Code you must also have a Class Key, which is 9 characters and is provided by the instructor. Note: Site licenses do not require Student Activation Codes. If your department has purchased a site license, the Student Activation Code step is bypassed.
Create an Account: After the PsychMate software is installed students must join a class and create a PsychMate Account online. The PsychMate graphical interface will provide step by step instructions on how to register the product to allow the students to join a class and create a PsychMate account. This process is done through the PsychMate web site. Students must have a valid email address in order to receive a password necessary for logging into PsychMate.
Once the student has joined the class and created their PsychMate account online they are ready to start running the experiments.
The students launch the PsychMate software and login using their email address and password. At the completion of each experiment, if the student is using PsychMate online, the data will be automatically submitted to the instructor. If the student has been working from the Student Organizer, they will need to connect to the Internet and manually submit their data from the Student Organizer.
How does PsychMate protect the anonymity of students when submitting data?
When a student registers, the PsychMate software generates a random subject number and ID number for each student. The subject number is provided to the student and may be viewed by logging in to the students' online PsychMate accounts and viewing the User Info page. However, the subject number is never provided to the instructor, and a Student's name and ID number do not appear in any data file. Therefore, a subject number and data file cannot be linked to any individual unless the student chooses to disclose that information to the instructor. In addition, an instructor is not permitted to generate a summary of participation until at least 20% of the class has completed the experiment.
How does the instructor retrieve students' data?
PsychMate Instructor software includes a graphical interface which provides step by step instructions on how to download the students' data files with just a click of a button. The instructor must be online in order to download the students' data files. The analyses may be performed offline after the data files have been downloaded locally.
Can students create their own experiments?
Yes, students may create their own experiments using the Psychology Experiment Authoring Kit (PEAK) included with PsychMate v2.0. PEAK allows students to design their own experiments from scratch, or from one of the many templates included. Output from experiments created using PEAK is in the form of tab-delimited text files, which may be imported into Excel or another statistical package for analysis.
Can students modify the PsychMate experiments?
The Psychology Experiment Authoring Kit (PEAK) is an experiment editing tool designed to allow students to create and run their own experiments. This tool may also be used to replicate or modify a certain number of experiments from the PsychMate library. These experiments are included as PEAK templates. Not all of the PsychMate experiments are or will be available as templates.
The Psychology Authoring Kit (PEAK) was designed exclusively for use by students that have had no previous programming experience and to allow instructors to teach the use of the tool within the time limits class session. In order to meet these design goals the ability for students to create novel/complex scripting routines to implement advanced features (e.g. repeating of practice trials until a performance level is obtained, active animation sequences, repeating incorrect trials) has been limited or removed. However, we view that the tool is powerful enough to allow students to implement the general/core procedural method for a majority of the PsychMate experiments provided and to design a wide range of completely novel paradigms for their own class projects.
