Web-Based Methods

Abstract

This chapter comprises seven sections. In the first section, Web-Based Methods in Psychology, the author briefly looks at the short history of Web-based methods in psychological research, describes their characteristics, and presents a systematic overview of different types of methods. The second section, Advantages of Web-Based Methods, illustrates that Web-based methods promise a great number of benefits to psychological assessment, several of which have been empirically supported or are confined to specific conditions. The third section, Common Concerns Regarding Internet-Based Studies, presents some typical concerns regarding Web-based research, along with findings and reasons that convincingly soften most concerns. The fourth section, Techniques, demonstrates several techniques to avoid, solve, or alleviate these issues. The fifth section, Three Web-Based Assessment Methods, explains several specific methods, including log file analysis, using the randomized response technique (RRT) on the Web, and game scenarios as covers for Web experiments. The sixth section, Using Web-Based Methods: An Example, gives the reader the opportunity to become active and experience Web-based methods by creating and conducting a Web-based experiment and, subsequently, a log file analysis in a step-by-step fashion. The concluding section looks at potential future trends and the continuing evolution of Web-based methods and their use in psychological assessment. The rapid development of Web technology and the spread of knowledge among psychologists regarding its characteristics creates the expectation that Web-based methods will inevitably impact the way psychological assessment is conducted in the future.