Summary and Purpose
The research carried out by Germine and colleagues (2012) seeks to identify the possibility of incorporating the web as an alternative to the lab experiments. In this case, the authors attempt to identify the effect of the sophistication and ubiquity of the internet as it becomes a common source for research. The quality of data and participant numbers are usually at a trade-off that cause significant concern on the research results (Germine et al., 2012). The study sought to identify data quality based on performance cognitive and perceptual measures particularly when involving complex stimuli.
Methodology
The researchers incorporated the use of cognitive and perceptual tests that would effectively identify the performance of the participants in the practice. The TestMyBrain.org is a web-based testing environment that provides participants with individualized results in exchange for study participation. In this regard, the participants were visitors to the site between 2009 and 2011 where there were individuals of varied ages and education levels. Majority were women (60%), primarily from the US (55%), and of an average age of 30 years (Germine et al., 2012). The researchers only use tests that have been validated by peer reviewed studies and incorporate good psychometric properties.
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Research Results
The tests administered sought to identify face memory, visual memory, emotional perception, verbal episodic memory, and working memory. These are represented by the following tests Cambridge Face Memory Test, Abstract Art Memory Test, Reading the Mind in the Eyes, Verbal Paired Associated Memory, and Forward Digit Span respectively (Germine et al., 2012). The results showed significant implications on the use of the internet as a research tool where participants are anonymous, uncompensated, and unsupervised, it is evident that they may provide data that is comparable in quality to that collected in the lab (Germine et al., 2012). The research is particularly important in education as it demonstrates that cognitive and perceptual traits are similar in the use of web-based research as the lab experiments.
References
Germine, L., Nakayama, K., Duchaine, B. C., Chabris, C. F., Chatterjee, G., & Wilmer, J. B. (2012). Is the Web as good as the lab? Comparable performance from Web and lab in cognitive/perceptual experiments. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 19 (5), 847-857.
