<p><strong>What is a typical approach to conducting a survey-based psychological experiment?</strong></p>
<p>There seems to be a host of issues involved; some that seem particularly important are:</p>
<ul>
<li>the appropriate design of the experiment,</li>
<li>ethical approval,</li>
<li>securing funding.</li>
</ul>
<p>There seems to be a number of books written about the topic, and it's hard to know where to begin.  I'm largely after an outline of what one needs to know in order to go from nothing to having successfully conducted a survey-based experiment.</p>
<hr />
<h3>Motivation</h3>
<p><a href="https://cogsci.stackexchange.com/questions/887">In a previous question</a>, I received an <a href="https://cogsci.stackexchange.com/a/888/29">answer</a> that suggested conducting a survey-based experiment.  Assuming (once I do a thorough literature review) I don't find any other answer to the question, I'd be interested in implementing the experiment (partly to answer the question itself, and partly for professional development).  I'm a scientist, but not in a discipline where surveys would typically arise.  As such, I have no experience in conducting a survey-based experiment.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-05-24T11:59:44.573Z
Are you more interested in the general issue of conducting such research, or how to do specific research on comparing attractiveness ratings for different types of objects as per the high heels question?
Jeromy Anglim
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-05-24T12:00:22.330Z
I do not think that there is a general answer to your question, as they are dependent on your research topic, the institution you conduct your research in, and the methods you want to use.
H.Muster
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-05-24T12:13:58.820Z
At this stage, I'm interested in the general question about how to conduct survey experiments (the motivation being the previous question).  If it's impractical for me to conduct such an experiment (maybe due to something unforeseen), it's probably not worth my while going into detail researching the topic.
anonymous
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-05-24T13:07:34.807Z
As I said, it depends on what you are intending. You can do the high-heels study by just creating an internet site with your pictures and some kind of voting system. But you can also do it in a highly controlled lab with carefully designed stimuli, and perfectly balanced groups of participants. The first study would be much cheaper and easier, whereas the second one would give results that are probably more reliable and easier to publish. Nevertheless, the first study might be good enough to give you a first impression.
H.Muster
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-05-24T16:50:07.180Z
I think the securing funding part is a completely separate question. I don't see what would be special about a survey-type experiment in terms of securing funding (except that you need much less funding). The appropriate-design of the experiment cannot be answered without knowing which experiment you want to conduct and what you expect to measure.
Artem Kaznatcheev
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-05-24T16:54:57.080Z
I also moved the motivation after the question, since you suggested that you want general info, not high-heels specific. If you feel this is inappropriate, you can always roll-back my edits.
Artem Kaznatcheev
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-05-24T20:42:30.507Z
You can ask us how your question could be improved in [chat] too
Zelda
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-11-11T08:39:13.160Z
this is a valid question, but not suitable for a Q&A format. I would suggest searching amazon.com for a book on 'research methods', or taking a course at your local University. If there is something specific you don't understand in the book, come back and post a new question. As is, this question cannot be adequately answered.
Jeff
<reference-request><methodology><experimental-psychology>
How does a researcher typically go about conducting a survey-based psychological experiment?
anonymous
# How does a researcher typically go about conducting a survey-based psychological experiment?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2012-05-24)

**What is a typical approach to conducting a survey-based psychological experiment?**

There seems to be a host of issues involved; some that seem particularly important are:

* the appropriate design of the experiment,
* ethical approval,
* securing funding.

There seems to be a number of books written about the topic, and it's hard to know where to begin. I'm largely after an outline of what one needs to know in order to go from nothing to having successfully conducted a survey-based experiment.

---

### Motivation

[In a previous question](https://cogsci.stackexchange.com/questions/887), I received an [answer](https://cogsci.stackexchange.com/a/888/29) that suggested conducting a survey-based experiment. Assuming (once I do a thorough literature review) I don't find any other answer to the question, I'd be interested in implementing the experiment (partly to answer the question itself, and partly for professional development). I'm a scientist, but not in a discipline where surveys would typically arise. As such, I have no experience in conducting a survey-based experiment.

**Tags:** reference-request, methodology, experimental-psychology

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Are you more interested in the general issue of conducting such research, or how to do specific research on comparing attractiveness ratings for different types of objects as per the high heels question?  
> **username_2**: I do not think that there is a general answer to your question, as they are dependent on your research topic, the institution you conduct your research in, and the methods you want to use.  
> **username_0**: At this stage, I'm interested in the general question about how to conduct survey experiments (the motivation being the previous question).  If it's impractical for me to conduct such an experiment (maybe due to something unforeseen), it's probably not worth my while going into detail researching the topic.  
> **username_2**: As I said, it depends on what you are intending. You can do the high-heels study by just creating an internet site with your pictures and some kind of voting system. But you can also do it in a highly controlled lab with carefully designed stimuli, and perfectly balanced groups of participants. The first study would be much cheaper and easier, whereas the second one would give results that are probably more reliable and easier to publish. Nevertheless, the first study might be good enough to give you a first impression.  
> **username_3**: I think the securing funding part is a completely separate question. I don't see what would be special about a survey-type experiment in terms of securing funding (except that you need much less funding). The appropriate-design of the experiment cannot be answered without knowing which experiment you want to conduct and what you expect to measure.  
> **username_3**: I also moved the motivation after the question, since you suggested that you want general info, not high-heels specific. If you feel this is inappropriate, you can always roll-back my edits.  
> **username_4**: You can ask us how your question could be improved in [chat] too  
> **username_5**: this is a valid question, but not suitable for a Q&A format. I would suggest searching amazon.com for a book on 'research methods', or taking a course at your local University. If there is something specific you don't understand in the book, come back and post a new question. As is, this question cannot be adequately answered.  

---

## 0 answers

