For lab studies, another option to grant credit is by using QR codes. If enabled in the system, the reminder email sent to participants the day before their appointment will contain a QR code. Participants can show you this code from the email, and you can scan it to grant credit.

If you have the Sona Mobile app on your mobile device, you can scan use the built-in feature to scan the QR code there. This is the easiest way to do it, since you are already logged in this way.

Alternatively, if you do not have the Sona Mobile app, to scan a QR code, you can use the built-in camera feature on your smartphone. Most phones will recognize the QR code as you go to take a photo of it, and will offer to open the URL. There are also many free QR scanning apps available. After scanning the QR code, you will need to log in to the system if you are not already logged in, as a security measure to ensure the person scanning the QR code has privileges to grant credit.

This feature also works for studies conducted over videoconference – ask the participant to hold the QR code up to their camera and scan it that way.