Give three ways to more effectively make use of the undergraduate subject pool to increase representativeness of the sample. Explain why there is a need for each and how it works.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Ans: Given the problems that are rampant with the use of undergraduate subject pools, their use is not projected to go away. The use of undergraduates is just too easy and convenient. So, given their use is highly likely to be continued, it behooves researchers to attempt to increase the quality of the use of these subject pools. To more effectively use the undergraduate subject pool, researchers could be careful in labeling the study, consider the study length, and inform participants about their individual results and the importance of their participation. To understand these more fully, the researcher should first consider the title of the study. Study titles that are too specific or those with trigger warnings in the title are likely to have fewer participants. Instead, researchers should label their studies broadly—and short and sweet. The goal is to increase participation while still giving participants enough information to avoid topics that might be sensitive or upsetting to them. Next, researchers should consider study length. If participants are being paid to participate, a longer survey or study would increase their pay and encourage participation. If participants are not being paid, and the university does not have an hour requirement (our university does not have a research requirement, but students receive extra credit for each study they participate in up to a point), then briefer studies will encourage participation. One final point about length of study is to be accurate in your estimates—have several people pretest the study so that the description of the study is as close as you can get it—before people participate. Finally, while money is nice, learning something about yourself is nicer (at least for some participants). The debriefing form should allow for participants to give their e-mail address or some other contact information. Then, researchers should let them know individual results, if requested, and group results, at a minimum.