|
Internet Research Methods in Psychology |
Updates will be posted here throughout the semester.Readings
| Date | Topic | Files or links |
| Jan 21 | Introduction: What can be done over the Internet. Creating a web server account. | Lecture notes 1 - Internet Possibilites [PowerPoint] Lecture notes 2 - Setting up a web server via Netfirms [PowerPoint] Some useful links for EditPlus and Netfirms EditPlus Great text editor for windows Netfirms web hosting |
| Feb 4 | How to make a basic HTML web page |
Useful links to HTML sources HTML colors and referencesLecture notes 3 - Creating HTML web pages [PowerPoint] Details on homework assignment [create a web page] |
| Feb 11 | HTML forms: Collecting research data from participants |
From this point forward, PowerPoint lecture files won't be of much good to us. Today we will discuss the use of HTML forms. We will focus on the code for the following form, http://www.web-research-design.net/P593/form1.htm. To view the HTML code, right-click on it and choose the view source option. We will also begin a rudimentary discussion of CGI. The code for the form1.pl script we will use can be copied and pasted from here, http://www.web-research-design.net/P593/form1pl.txt. Details on homework assignment [create a web page questionnaire with Perl script] |
| Feb 18 | An introduction to CGI scripting: Using Perl to save automatically response data to a file AND Providing customized feedback to research participants |
Some new concepts we'll introduce: processing data, foreach loops, writing data to a text tile, reading (and using) data stored in a text file, if/else conditions Here are some files we'll be using today: form3.htm form3.pl [text file version] notes form4.htm form4.pl [text file version] Details on homework assignment [create a Perl script that processes data] |
| Feb 25 | Using Perl to deliver HTML, connecting multiple web pages, hidden tags, for-next loops and more about arrays |
Administer questionnaire items via perl form5.pl form5.pl [text file version] Script that processes form5.pl's data form6.pl [text file version] Do it all (administer items and process data) with 1 script form7.pl form7.pl [text file version] Present items on separate pages - hidden tags form8.pl form8.pl [text file version] The basics of a for loop form9.pl form9.pl [text file version] Using the for loop to access elements of an array form10.pl form10.pl [text file version] Using the for loop with arrays to present questionnaire items form11.pl form11.pl [text file version] |
| March 4 | More on multiple pages and Subroutines |
Hidden tags and multi-page layouts mult1.pl mult1.pl [text file version] Basic subtroutine sub1.pl sub1.pl [text file version] Basic subtroutine with parameters sub2.pl sub2.pl [text file version] Subtroutine: parameters, indexing, returning values sub3.pl sub3.pl [text file version] Subtroutine: Additional examples sub4.pl sub4.pl [text file version] Homework Create a set of subroutines that will automate some processes that are commonly used in Internet based research applications. Also, illustrate the use of these subrounines in a perl script application. 1. A routine that automatically creates the radio buttons for items that require 1 to 5 rating scales. 2. A routine that automatically opens the data file, finds the average *and* SD for a variable in the dataset. Extra Credit: The rountine also computes the subject's standard score (z-score). |
| Mar 11 | Random assignment to conditions and randomizing the order of stimuli |
Randomize a list rand1.pl rand1.pl [text file version] Randomly select 1 item from a list rand2.pl rand2.pl [text file version] Toss a coin: Heads or tails? rand3.pl rand3.pl [text file version] Random assignment to conditions rand4.pl rand4.pl [text file version] Random assignment to conditions - 2 x 2 design rand5.pl rand5.pl [text file version] Randomize order in which questions or stimuli appear rand6.pl rand6.pl [text file version] Randomize question order while presenting questions across multiple pages rand7.pl rand7.pl [text file version] Randomize both the order of questionnaires/blocks and items/stimuli within a questionnaire/block rand8.pl rand8.pl [text file version] Homework Create a script that uses randomization in a way that isn't redunant with some of the examples we discussed today. Feel free to be silly if you wish, or to be ultra-utilitarian if you prefer. Whatever you do, be sure to make it clear that you have mastered how to randomize things effectively in Perl. Your homework needs to include a link to the live webpage as well as the text for the Perl script(s). |
| April 11 | Tracking participants over multiple sessions: Usernames, passwords, and menus |
Before we get started, go to your Netfirms account and create a new folder within your www directory called 'data'. The scripts for this week are listed as separate text files, but they all function together. To see them in action, visit this link: Login page example. Individual files for copying and pasting: login.htm [right click on page to view source] Details on homework assignment: homework7.txt |
| April 1 | Graphical displays of data using HTML/CGI tricks and jquery/flot |
Individual files for copying and pasting: Interface for demonstrating bargraphs |
| April 8 | Assessing Response Times |
Simple example of measuring response times rtdemo1.pl rtdemo1.pl [text file] Simple example of measuring response times with data analysis rtdemo2.pl rtdemo2.pl [text file] Example of measuring response times with random trial orders rtdemo3.pl rtdemo3.pl [text file] |
| April 15 | Ethics, IRBs, Issues |
Readings Fraley Internet chapter [read the sections on ethics, security, and concerns] Lecture Notes [PowerPoint] IRB-1 Documents Here are some IRB-1 documents we've submitted to the local IRB and ultimately had approved. As you're drafting your IRB documents for your Internet research, you may want to refer to these to see how we handled certain questions and issues. Right-click the links to download the files (MS Word) to your computer. Personality and decision-making in romantic relationships |