How long are you doing this study?
This lab was created to be a regular fixture at UWF. The lab was also designed to do more than one study at a time. Currently, we have four studies that are available for your participation. With each new semester, we hope to continually update the available studies. This means that the opportunities to participate in the lab should only be hampered by your willingness to participate.
How many times can I participate?
The number of studies that are available vary from semester to semester. Currently we have four studies in which you may participate. For each study you participate in, you will receive a 10$ gift card to your choice of Target or WalMart. We only ask that you do not do more than one study per day.
What is the best way to contact a member of the lab?
There are two main ways that you can contact the AML. Emailing us at AML@UWF.EDU is preferred- we have the ability to check email quite often. You can also call at (850) 857-6217 and leave a message, which we will return as soon as possible. Because the phone is a direct line to Dr. VanWormer's office, it is not monitored nearly as often as the email account.
What are the requirements to participate?
You must be 60 years or older. We also ask that you are in good health and have normal (or corrected to normal) vision and hearing. In the future, we may lower our age requirement, however, for current studies we ask that you be 60 or over.
How long will I be on campus?
Each study takes approximately an hour. If your appointment begins at 10:00, you should leave no later than 11:00.
What does a study consist of?
The content of our studies change from semester to semester. Currently, all studies take place on the computer. You will see or hear a list of items and then will be asked to recall the items in the order they were shown by clicking on the words with a computer mouse. If you have ever used a computer mouse before, our studies will not be techinically challenging.
Where do I park?
There are two small lots adjacent to the psychology building (Building 41) that are available for visitor parking. The best "lot" to park in is to the north of the building between the Psychology Department and the Central Utility Plant(Building 40). Click here for a campus map. You can magnify the map by selecting our building (41) or our deparment (Psychology). Click here for a magnified map.
Can I cancel an appointment?
Absolutely. You can call and leave a message cancelling your appointment. If you would like to reschedule, we will be glad to do so.
Can I tell my friends?
Absolutely. We are always looking for new volunteers. If your friend would like to make an appointment, we would be happy to do so. If you would like to come in together, we will try our best to accommodate you.
Can you assess my memory?
Unfortunately, our studies are not designed to specifically assess memory impairments. Each new participant is given the MMSE, which assesses memory impairments to a certain degree. If we find that you have a "lower" MMSE score, we will be able to discuss this with you further. For the other tasks that you will do in the lab, we can tell you 1) the usual performance on the task, 2) the average performance we've found in the AML so far, and 3) your individual performance on the task. We try not to make conclusions about your overall ability, due to the large amount of individual differences, however, we do get a better "picture" as you participate in more of the AML tasks.