Online Research Advanced Tools: Social media & Website simulations with Gorilla

In our latest webinar, Johanna Tomczak and Max Mawby shared their expertise on combating misinformation through cutting-edge inoculation methods. Johanna, a Research Specialist at Gorilla Experiment Builder with a background in Cognitive Psychology, and Max, a leading practitioner in behavioral science with extensive experience in both the private and public sectors, provided valuable insights into their approaches. If you missed it, watch the full video recording and review the Q&A session to learn about their strategies for enhancing digital literacy and influencing positive change.

About the Speakers

Johanna Tomczak works as a Research Specialist at Gorilla Experiment Builder. She completed her degree in Mathematics, Computer Science and Cognitive Science at the University of Grenoble (France), before obtaining her PhD in Cognitive Psychology from the University of Leeds (UK) in 2022. Her thesis, which examined the impact of bilingualism and ageing on the communication between the cerebral hemispheres, has shown her the benefits of online research and she decided to join Gorilla to work on improving behavioral science as a whole.

Max Mawby is a leading practitioner in applying insights from behavioral science to drive positive change. He heads Thinks Applied Behavioral Science team with extensive experience of designing and running online experiments for government and industry clients. Max is passionate about applied behavioral science and how this can improve our lives. In particular, he is interested in driving positive financial behaviors, sustainable decisions, and using behavioral insight to make design inclusive for all.

Most recently, Max conducted an online randomized controlled trial (RCT) to explore the threat posed by election disinformation ahead of the 2024 UK general election. This focused on a behavioral approach to testing and addressing simple interventions with the potential to help limit the spread of mis and disinformation.

Additional Resources

Thinks Insight and Strategy: Addressing disinformation online case study

For £50 research credit

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Samples

Gorilla Open Materials

Recruiting participants

What over 1,000,000 participants tell us about online research protocols

Webinar about improving participant engagement

Webinar about gamification with Dr Drew McLaughlin

Workshop on UX/UI studies

Previous Sage Partnered Gorilla Webinars:

• Teaching Research Methods in a Digital World

• Online Research for PhDs and PIs - New Possibilities

• Gamifying Cognitive Tasks

• Introduction to Online Behavioural Research

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Q&A

+ What is the best approach to rolling out an inoculation intervention to effectively reach people and change their behavior on social media?

The key challenge with rolling out inoculation interventions is effectively reaching people in a way that actually influences their behavior on social media. While online research offers a controlled environment, applying these findings in real-world settings remains complex. The real challenge lies in scaling and distributing these interventions to achieve meaningful impact.

+ Can you discuss the concept of confounding variables and how they can affect the validity of research findings?

Confounding variables are factors that might influence the outcome of a study but are not controlled or accounted for. In behavioral research, it's nearly impossible to control every variable, and some may not even be recognized until after the study is conducted. This inherent limitation means that researchers must acknowledge the potential for confounding variables and the compromises they make in controlling their research environment.

+ How can researchers address the challenge of confounding variables when conducting online research?

Online experimentation and simulation offer a controlled environment that helps minimize confounding variables. By using platforms like Gorilla, researchers can manage and control various aspects of the study, leading to cleaner data sets and more reliable results. Although some confounds may still exist, online research generally provides a clearer and more manageable setting compared to field studies.

+ How do online research methods compare to traditional lab-based research in terms of controlling the research environment?

Online research methods, while offering a controlled environment, often create an illusion of control compared to traditional lab settings. In labs, researchers can more directly observe participants and control variables. However, online platforms allow for a wide reach and can manage many variables effectively, making them a useful tool for obtaining clean data and conducting research at scale.

+ How do you ensure data quality and participant authenticity in online research?

Ensuring data quality and participant authenticity online involves implementing checks and attention measures within the research design. Despite not being able to physically observe participants, online platforms can use various techniques to verify participant identity and engagement, leading to more accurate and reliable data.

+ Are there tutorials on Youtube?

Yes, here.

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