1. Software and technology

2. Overview
Why is it important for psychology students to know about the role of technology in research?
What are the main types of research software you should know about?
What are some online resources that can facilitate conducting research?

3. Rationale
Psychology students must be able to communicate with other scientists, and different disciplines use different technologies
Young people: Better with technology, learn it faster, can set yourself up for doing really innovative research now and years from now
Skills in Research Methods = Job Security
Having even heard of a particular software program may turn an interview into a job; knowing what you’re doing makes you a valued member of a team

4. Common Statistical Software
SPSS: graphical user interface (drop down menus), does not require coding syntax, can do simple and many complex tasks, rigid, used in psychology
PSPP: Open-access (free) SPSS-like program
SAS: Used in many other departments, especially in medicine and public health, requires coding in syntax (no drop down menus), think SPSS on steroids
STATA: Similar to SAS, fewer steroids, prettier output
R: Similar to SAS and STATA but open-access (free)
ArcGIS: Maps and geographic data

5. Other Common Software
Internet Explorer: Best web browser for 3 reasons
Excel: Graphs, lists of numbers, repetitive calculations and tasks, text manipulation
EndNote: Referencing software, can import citations from Google Scholar, and output into APA style or any other format

6. Online Studies - Recruitment
SONA
Psychology Research Websites
Psychological Research on the Net
Lists most recent studies at the top
Online Social Psychology Studies
Mechanical Turk ($)

7. Online Studies - Recruitment
ResearchMatch
Available to 136 institutions -- now Tulane!
>110,000 volunteers
Can specify demographics (e.g., age, race, location, BMI), health history (e.g., 350 with HIV, >10,000 with depression, 170 with prostate cancer, 31,000 “healthy”)
Other sources of targeted recruitment
Discussion forums, listservs, health education or interest websites

8. Online Studies - Implementation
Low-tech:
Surveymonkey ($)
Free for 10 questions and <100 responses
More sophisticated plans at $25+/month
Qualtrics ($$) – free to Tulane
REDCap ($$$) – free to LA CaTS (including Tulane?)
Custom website ($$$$) – can provide feedback
Need not involve a standard computer: phone call, text message, Fitbit, whatever
Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA)