How to Conduct Behavioral... | Buy

Designed for researchers with no prior knowledge of programming or website design, this is an easy-to-follow, step-by-step guide to creating interactive behavioural research instruments online. With this volume, anyone can learn to write programs in HTML and CGI/Perl that will enable them to take full advantage of all the benefits of Internet-based data collection: the ability to effortlessly manipulate visual and narrative content, randomize the presentation order of stimuli, and provide customized assessments and feedback for research participants. Including extensive examples throughout, the book explains everything from how to obtain access to a web server to mastering HTML coding, processing data with CGI/Perl, and importing data files into popular statistical packages.

R. Chris Fraley received his PhD in social--personality psychology from the University of California, Davis. He conducts research on attachment theory and close relationships, personality development, and emotion regulation. He is currently Assistant Professor of Psychology at the University of Illinois.

Introduction

1

(9)

What You Will Be Able to Accomplish

3

(1)

What You Will Need

4

(1)

Some (Very) Basic Things You Need to Know about the Internet

4

(2)

How to Get the Most Out of This Book

6

(3)

Getting Started: A Step-by-Step Guide to Using a Web Server

9

(24)

Method 1: Using a Professional Web Hosting Service

11

(10)

Signing Up with Netfirms

12

(1)

Transferring Files to Your Netfirms Server

13

(1)

Downloading and Installing WS_FTP Pro

13

(1)

Configuring WS_FTP Pro

14

(1)

Using WS_FTP Pro to Transfer Files

15

(3)

Creating a Data Directory

18

(1)

Some Important Notes on the Organization and Operation of Your Server

19

(1)

The Location of Your Web Pages

19

(1)

The Address or URL for Your Web Page

19

(1)

The CGI Folder

20

(1)

Transferring Files

20

(1)

Timing Out

20

(1)

Method 2: Setting Up Your Own Server

21

(12)

Downloading and Installing Microsoft's Windows Installer

22

(1)

Downloading and Installing ActivePerl

23

(1)

Downloading and Installing the Apache Server

24

(2)

Getting Your Server Up and Running

26

(1)

Creating a Data Directory

27

(1)

Some Important Notes about the Organization and Operation of Your Server

28

(1)

Transferring Files to the Server

28

(1)

The Location of Your Web Pages

29

(1)

The Address or URL for Your Web Pages

29

(1)

The CGI Folder

30

(1)

Turning On and Turning Off the Server

30

(1)

Troubleshooting

31

(2)

HTML: How to Make a Web Page from Scratch

33

(27)

Downloading and Installing 1st Page

35

(1)

What Is Required in All HTML Pages

36

(1)

Creating Text

37

(1)

Page Properties

38

(3)

Formatting Text

41

(3)

Bold

41

(1)

Italics

41

(1)

Font

41

(1)

Text Size

42

(1)

Text Color

42

(1)

Line Spacing

42

(1)

Centering Text

43

(1)

Blank Space

43

(1)

Inserting an Image

44

(4)

Creating Hyperlinks

48

(1)

Using Images as Links

49

(1)

Using Tables Effectively

50

(3)

Bringing It All Together

53

(3)

Summary

56

(4)

HTML Forms: Collecting Research Data from Participants via the Internet

60

(22)

The Form Tag

61

(1)

Creating Response Windows and Rating Scales

62

(7)

Text Boxes

62

(2)

Radio Buttons

64

(2)

Pull-Down Menus

66

(2)

Checkboxes

68

(1)

The Submit Button

69

(1)

Image Maps

69

(1)

Hidden Tags

70

(1)

Two Examples

71

(11)

An Introduction to CGI Scripting: Using Perl to Automatically Save Response Data to a File

82

(22)

Saving the Data via a Simple CGI Script

86

(6)

The First Line of All Perl Scripts

87

(1)

Instructing the Server to Process the Submitted Data

87

(1)

Extracting Values from the Submitted Data and Assigning Them Variable Names within the CGI Script

88

(1)

Writing to a Data File

89

(2)

Inserting HTML Code into the CGI Script

91

(1)

Testing the Code

92

(3)

Example 2: Time Stamping a Submission

95

(3)

Time Stamp

96

(1)

Environmental Variables

97

(1)

Let's See It Work

98

(1)

Importing the Data into SPSS

98

(1)

Summary

99

(5)

Providing Customized Feedback to Research Participants

104

(22)

Providing Feedback: Averaging a User's Responses

105

(5)

Providing Feedback: Averaging a User's Responses and Saving the Data

110

(2)

Data Analysis on the Server: Averaging the Responses of Everyone in Your Sample

112

(5)

Using If--Else Conditionals to Tailor the Feedback Further

117

(4)

Sample Size and Feedback

121

(2)

Summary

123

(3)

Randomizing the Order of Stimuli

126

(20)

An Illustration

127

(2)

For--Next Loops

129

(4)

Breaking Down the Code

133

(3)

Processing and Saving Randomized Data

136

(2)

Another Example, with a Slight Twist

138

(4)

A Final Example, with a Bigger Twist

142

(2)

Summary

144

(2)

Random Assignment to Conditions

146

(9)

An Example

146

(5)

Another Way to Implement Random Assignment

151

(2)

Manipulating Variables within-Subjects

153

(1)

Summary

153

(2)

Using Multiple Web Pages in Research: Carrying Responses Forward from One Page to the Next

155

(19)

An Example

156

(6)

Randomizing Trials across Multiple Web Pages

162

(5)

Using Image Maps to Advance from One Page to the Next

167

(6)

Summary

173

(1)

Using Conditional Branching Structures: An Example of ``Skip Patterns'' in Survey Research

174

(7)

Summary

180

(1)

Advanced Feedback: Summarizing Data with Bar Graphs and Two-Dimensional Plots

181

(18)

Bar Graphs

182

(6)

Two-Dimensional Coordinate Graphs

188

(10)

Summary

198

(1)

Tracking Participants over Multiple Sessions: PINs, Passwords, and Menus

199

(16)

An Example

200

(1)

Dissecting the Code

201

(12)

Customizing the Code

213

(1)

Summary

213

(2)

Measuring Response Times

215

(18)

An Example: The Recall of Emotional Memories

217

(7)

A More Complex Extension: Saving the Data and Analyzing It for the Participant

224

(2)

Building on the Example: Randomizing Trial Orders

226

(6)

Summary

232

(1)

Additional Applications of Perl: Discussion Forums and Scored Tests

233

(35)

Online Discussion Forum

234

(24)

The CGI Scripts and How They Work

240

(17)

Summary of the Online Forum Programs

257

(1)

Online Quizzes

258

(10)

Wrapping It Up

268

(23)

Troubleshooting

268

(4)

Getting Your Site Known

272

(2)

Ethics

274

(1)

Apache Server Maintenance

275

(1)

Security: Protecting Your Server

276

(2)

Security: Protecting Your Data

278

(3)

Sampling Issues

281

(2)

Dropout

283

(1)

Data Quality Control

284

(1)

Web Design

285

(4)

Screen Size

285

(1)

Figure--Ground Contrast

286

(1)

Don't Use JavaScript

286

(1)

Test Your Page in Different Browsers

287

(1)

Minimize the Need to Click and Scroll

287

(1)

Avoid Jargon

287

(1)

Avoid Using Plug-Ins

288

(1)

Make Your Site Look Professional

288

(1)

Summary

289

(2)

References

291

(2)

Index

293

What is included with this book?

The New copy of this book will include any supplemental materials advertised. Please check the title of the book to determine if it should include any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

The Used, Rental and eBook copies of this book are not guaranteed to include any supplemental materials. Typically, only the book itself is included. This is true even if the title states it includes any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.