Specialization: Usability Studies, Eye-tracking, Sensors, Scent Stimuli, Observation Rooms
Max Capacity: 2 persons per room
Location: Cubicus, room B200VH (1-7)
Get Room Key from: Cubicus B204
About Flexperiment
The Flexperiment facility is a set-up of 7 small cubicle lab spaces with workstations. All the rooms are connected to a remote controlled camara observation system that allow for remote monitoring of participants. These Flexperiment rooms are small enclosed spaces with a computer, desk and chair and can be used for all sorts of studies, ranging from usability tests to psychometric measurements.
Three of the rooms are set up for specialized areas e.g. usability studies, VR, eye-tracking or scent. And the remainder of the rooms are flexible to be adjusted based on the researchers needs.
Flexperiment opens the possibility for a variety of research. Researchers use the specialized room for smaller-scale experiments with one participant at a time.
Using the Flexperiment lab spaces and their equipment
Remote Monitoring of the Flexperiment Rooms: All the Flexperiment lab spaces offer the ability to perform studies in a controlled small lab space. A researcher being present with the participant can affect the study’s outcomes, thus remote observation is both a need and an ability of the Flexperiment rooms. It does this through the placement of cameras in each mini lab space and a monitoring station in a hall. Read this guide to learn how to observe remotely.
Room Specifications:
For Multi-Purpose Use (Room 1, 5, 6 and 7) Four out of the seven Flexperiment rooms are all-purpose rooms. When you need an isolated space to apply stimuli or take measurements, they are perfect.
Equipment: Chair, desk, camera observation system, computer, screen, keyboard and mouse.
Facilities: Closable (heated) room
For Usability Testing (Room 2) This room is mainly used for usability testing. It is more comfy and homely with a couch and plants and thanks to its advanced eye-tracking equipment is perfect for usability studies. The equipment can follow the gaze of participants more precisely and continue to do so outside of the boundaries of the computer screen.
Specialization: Usability testing
Equipment: Advanced eye-tracker, chair, desk, camera observation system, computer, screen, keyboard and mouse.
For Scent Machine (Room 3) This room comes equipped with very special equipment in the form of a scent machine. It allows the experimenter to create a consistent and controlled smell that can serve as a stimulant. In marketing research the idea of a holistic approach, involving more of the human senses, has gained traction and the BMS Lab is equipped to facilitate these studies. Please note that great care needs to be taken in designing and executing your procedure when using the scent machine. Furthermore, the machine mixes chemicals to create consistent scents and therefore requires more advanced knowledge and the appropriate preparation time to ensure the right scent can be created (supplies) and is created. Please contact the BMS Lab team well in time if you plan to use scent in your study.
Specialization: Research involving smell or scent
Equipment: Scent machine, static eye-tracker, chair, desk, camera observation system, computer, screen, keyboard and mouse.
For Eye-Tracking (Room 4) Thanks to its advanced eye-tracking equipment is perfect for usability studies and stimuli that are outside of the screen. The equipment can follow the gaze of participants more precisely and continue to do so outside of the boundaries of the computer screen.
Specialization: Eye-tracking
Equipment: Advanced static eye-tracker, chair, desk, camera observation system, computer, screen, keyboard and mouse.
Are the Flexperiment rooms suitable for your research?
When should you use the Flexperiment rooms?
When your study requires either the specialized equipment or isolation of your participants from outside influences, the Flexperiment rooms are very useful. They, for example, allow you to create a distraction free environment in which to apply your stimuli, observe your participants unobtrusively or in which measurements can be taken in an environment that is both quiet and respects the participant’s privacy.
When should you not use the Flexperiment rooms?
If your study requires the processing of very large numbers of participants or a very flexible schedule, then the rooms might be less suitable. Do keep in mind that you should try to avoid reserving a specialized room when the specialised equipment is irrelevant or unnecessary for your study. You can always contact the BMS Lab team for more information.
Best practices Flexperiment lab spaces
When using the flexperiment lab spaces, there are some ground rules you must abide by.
- Keep the room clean! Eat in the student lounge or down in the mess hall.
- Keep silent in the room! This is not only for your own research but also for the other research taking place in the rooms next door.
- Don’t move the equipment (unless discussed).
- In case of questions or problems, report these to the BMS Lab Room B204.
- Don’t overheat the room during winter.
- Close windows and turn off light when finished.
- Bring the key back to B204.
- The room keys cannot leave the building. If you want to use the facilities outside office hours, indicate this in – your reservation. Make sure you are informed about the procedures regarding access of the building outside office hours.
Working with participants - When using Informed Consent forms, make sure you guarantee your participants’ anonymity, so do not leave the forms behind.
- Participants can be noisy in the hallway when waiting to participate in an experiment. For this reason, participants have to wait downstairs in the mess hall or in the student lounge on the first floor of the Cubicus.
Working with our equipment - You can make use of the PC and equipment you reserved. You are not allowed to use equipment you have not reserved.
- The PCs are not clean installed after every research, so take care of your data during/after your research.
- It is obligatory to copy your data after every day of data gathering onto the T4P data server.
- After the research, delete any sensitive data from the PC.
- Let us know through the equipment reservation forms what hardware you want to use. This way we can make sure all the necessary software is there for you.
The below states the hygiene procedures related to persons. For equipment, follow the disinfection procedure for the instrument.
1 – Persons
1.1 – Postpone the study in case of flu, cold or other infection in the trial conductor or subject (V).
1.2 – Ensure good general body and clothing hygiene during the trial period (V).
1.3 – Always wear disposable gloves during the following physiological procedures:
a – cleaning/abrading the subject’s skin (V).
b – application of electrodes (V).
c – removal of electrodes (V).
d – all actions related to blood, sperm or vaginal fluid (V).
e – working with disinfectants (V).
f – in the case of clearly visible wounds or skin irritation in the subject or experimenter (V).
1.4 – The simplest disinfection procedure is hand washing. This should be done, regardless of the use of gloves:
a – prior to physiological actions (V).
b – after physiological actions (V).
c – after using the toilet (V).
d – after sneezing, coughing or blowing the nose (use paper tissues) (V).
e – after unexpected contact with blood or other body fluids (V).
1.5 – It is preferable not to wear rings during examination (V).
1.6 – Nails should preferably be kept short and clean during the study period (V).
Want to use the Flexperiment lab spaces?
First go through the steps on how to reserve our facilities or go directly through our project registration to start the reservation process. If you have already followed these steps, go directly to our booqable page to make a reservation:
