Psychological Experiments on the Internet / Edition 1

by Michael H. Birnbaum

Overview

Until recently, most psychological research was conducted using subject samples in close proximity to the investigators—namely university undergraduates. In recent years, however, it has become possible to test people from all over the world by placing experiments on the internet. The number of people using the internet for this purpose is likely to become the main venue for subject pools in coming years. As such, learning about experiments on the internet will be of vital interest to all research psychologists.

Psychological Experiments on the Internet is divided into three sections. Section I discusses the history of web experimentation, as well as the advantages, disadvantages, and validity of web-based psychological research. Section II discusses examples of web-based experiments on individual differences and cross-cultural studies. Section III provides readers with the necessary information and techniques for utilizing the internet in their own research designs.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780120999804
Publisher:	Elsevier Science
Publication date:	03/16/2000
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	338
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Birnbaum, Michael H. (California State Univ)

Table of Contents

Contributors.
Introduction to Psychological Experiments on the Internet.
General Issues:
M.H. Birnbaum, Decision Making in the Lab and on the Web.
J.H. Krantz and R. Dalal, Validity of Web-Based Psychological Research.
J. Musch and U.-D. Reips, A Brief History of Web Experimenting.
U.-D. Reips, The Web Experiment Method: Advantages, Disadvantages, and Solutions.
Individual Differences and Cross-Cultural Studies:
T. Buchanan, Potential of the Internet for Personality Research.
R.D. Bailey, W.E. Foote and B. Throckmorton, Human Sexual Behavior: A Comparison of College and Internet Surveys.
D. Pagani and L. Lombardi, An Intercultural Examination of Facial Features Communicating Surprise.
J.H. Mueller, D.M. Jacobsen and R. Schwarzer, What Are Computing Experiences Good For: A Case Study in On-Line Research.
Computer Techniques for Internet Experimentation:
K.O. McGraw, M.D. Tew and J.E. Williams, PsychExps: An On-Line Psychology Laboratory.
J. Baron and M. Siepmann, Techniques for Creating and Using Web Questionnaires in Research and Teaching.
G. Francis, I. Neath, and A. Surprenant, The Cognitive Psychology Online Laboratory.
W.C. Schmidt, The Server Side of Psychology Web Experiments.
Conclusion.
References.
Glossary of Web Terms.
Index.

Editorial Reviews

"An interesting, technically oriented volume, editor Birnbaum's carefully crafted compilation serves as both handbook and reference for students and researchers, even crossing the border into the technology field." —FIRST MONDAY

From the Publisher

Until recently, most psychological research was conducted using subjects close at hand, which usually meant university undergraduates who needed some spare cash. Here researchers explain how the Internet has changed all that, allowing them to test people from all over the world. They cover the history, advantages, disadvantages, and validity of Web experimentation; examples of experiments on individual differences and cross-cultural studies; and information and techniques for using the Internet for research design. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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