2. Using the Internet For Psychological Research: Personality Testing on the World Wide Web. British Journal of Psychology, 90. Buchanan, Tom & Smith, John L. (1999) October 29, 2002 Alexia DaSilva, Stacey Smith, Jennifer Traver, & Ann Dorlet

3. Why Have Testing on the Internet? Benefits 1.Easy access to info 2.Low cost 3.Automatic scoring and analysis 4.Validity - Deja News Drawbacks 1.Worst form of testing Batinic (1999) 2.Validity - PsycLIT database

4. Validity of the Internet: Past Research -Sexual fantasies & Paper/pencil v. Internet Smith & Leigh (1997) -In favor of: -Internet sample more representative of pop. -WWW as a substitute -Opposition: -Premature conclusions -Recruiting issues

5. Validity of the Internet: Computerized Testing -Equivalence -Speed -Multiple and forced choice items -Anonymity and increased self- disclosure

6. Is the Internet Reliable & Valid? 1.Questionable identities and demographics 2.Increased heterogeneity and representation 3.Too many confounding variables 4.Difference in interest levels 5.Uncontrollable test-taking environment 6.One user, multiple tests 7.Varied computer formatting and interfaces

7. Establishing Reliability & Validity - Computerized tests favored over pencil/paper -Testing must have constant … -Presentation -Participant composition -Environment -Test-retest reliability unavailable in computerized environment -Confirmatory factor analysis

8. Present Researchers’ Method Participants Sample 1: - 963 Internet participants - Ages 11-67 Sample 2: - 224 undergrad volunteers - Ages 18-53 Procedure -Test 1: -Recruited from Usenet newgroups -Snyder’s Self Monitoring scale -Test 2: -Recruited from Univ. Sunderland classes -Given paper/pencil version *Both included proper debriefing and score interpretation

9. Present Researchers’ Methods: (Cont’d) Results: 1.Coefficient alpha: - Sample 1 =.75 ; Sample 2 =.73 2. Chi square analysis found poor fit, possibly misleading 3. Internet sample had higher GFI, AGFI, & RMS 4. No significant difference in means

10. Conclusions & Discussion 1.Reliability of internet version higher than previously reported 2.Continuance of reliability and validity testing needed 3.Random tests made by unprofessionals 4.Problems with demographic info 5.Exclusive to those with internet access 6.Cross-sampling may occur

11. Critical Review Discussion 1.The participants were recruited from a psychology news site which may mean that the sample was not a variety of people like the researchers hoped. 2.Construct validity is still not tested for. 3.Results from the Internet testing were actually better than those for the paper test.

12. Questions??