Web-based experiments

Web-based Experiments

A Web-based experiment is an experiment, usually in psychology, that is conducted over the Internet. These have become increasingly popular in recent years because of the ability to collect large amounts of data from a wide range of locations cheaply. However, concern has been raised about the generally weaker controls in Web-based experiments as opposed to laboratory-based experiments. It is harder to be sure that the subjects are who they say they are (i.e., age, race, gender, etc.) and that they are taking the experiment seriously.

Most Web-based experiments are surveys, though recently cognitive scientists have been posting more complex, real-time studies using Flash[[1]].

Links

A fairly old discussion of the pros and cons of Web-based experiments: http://www.apa.org/monitor/apr00/research.html[[2]]

A list of Web-base social psychology experiments: www.socialpsychology.org/expts.htmwww.socialpsychology.org/expts.htm

A well-known list of general Web-based experiments: http://psych.hanover.edu/research/exponnet.html[[3]]

Online research in the UK: http://onlinepsychresearch.co.uk/[[4]]