INTERNET METHODS
Since
1996 we have taken advantage of the Internet as a means for collecting data on
personality and self-esteem. Although
data collected via the Internet is subject to limitations (e.g., obtaining data
only from individuals with web access), this method also has a number of
advantages (e.g., reaching well beyond the populations that characterize most
psychological research; obtaining large sample sizes), especially when used in
conjunction with conventional research methods.
The sample sizes we have been able to collect using internet techniques have permitted us to perform analyses and address questions that have hitherto remained unanswered. For example, in one study of personality development (Srivastava et al., 2003), the large number of participants (well over half a million at the last count) allowed us to test linear, quadratic, and cubic age trends as well as interactions between the trends and gender. Moreover, we have enough participants at each particular age to track trends in personality change with a high degree of fidelity.
In a study of music preferences (Rentfrow & Gosling, 2003), we used the Internet to complement our self-report measures of music preferences collected here in Austin, Texas. The internet allowed us to obtain data on music preferences that was not dependent on self-reports and did not over-sample from a particular region of the United States. Specifically, we examined individuals' on-line music libraries to obtain behaviorally revealed preferences from each of the 50 states.
Our most recent work focuses on evaluating the costs and benefits of Internet research (Gosling et al., 2004).
SOME ON-LINE TESTS WE'VE DEVELOPED
In our latest research we are examining whether some people are better judges than others and whether some people are more easily judged than others. To do this, we have created in interactive website that's a kind of personality version of amihotornot.com, gothornot.com, etc.. Please check it out and see how well you do (as a target and/or a judge): youjustgetme.com
Click here to go to one of our on-line tests of the Big Five (or here, if you'd prefer feedback in terms of Star Wars characters!)
Click here to take a Big Five test in Spanish
Click here to take a Big Five test in German
Click here to take a test that assesses your musical preferences
Are you thinking about doing internet research? If so, you need to buy this book by Chris Fraley
And you should also check out the Web Survey Methodology site, a portal dedicated to methodological issues associated with web surveys.
Collaborators: Oliver John, Jeff Potter, Jason Rentfrow, Rick Robins, Sanjay Srivastava, Simine Vazire
Representative Publications:
Gosling, S. D., & Bonnenburg, A. V. (1998). An integrative approach to personality research in anthrozoology: Ratings of six species of pets and their owners. Anthrozoös, 11, 184-156.
Rentfrow, P. J., & Gosling, S. D. (2003). The do re mi’s of everyday life: The structure and personality correlates of music preferences. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 84, 1236-1256.
Gosling, S. D., & Vazire, S., Srivastava, S., & John, O. P. (2004). Should we trust Web-based studies? A comparative analysis of six preconceptions about Internet questionnaires. American Psychologist, 59, 93-104.
Robins, R. W., Tracy, J. L., Trzesniewski, K. H., Potter, J., & Gosling, S. D. (2001). Personality correlates of self-esteem. Journal of Research in Personality, 35, 463-482.
Robins, R. W., Trzesniewski, K. H., Tracy, J. L., Gosling, S. D., & Potter, J. (2002). Global self-esteem across the lifespan. Psychology and Aging, 17, 423-434.
Srivastava, S., John, O. P., Gosling, S. D., & Potter, J. (2003). Development of personality in adulthood: Set like plaster or persistent change? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 84, 1041-1053.