Teaching Research Methods to Prepare Students for Careers in Behavioral Science and Data Science with Gorilla

Oct 25

In this webinar, Johanna Tomczak, Research Specialist at Gorilla Experiment Builder, shares insights into the most cutting-edge approaches and practical examples for teaching research methods, illustrating where and how these techniques can be applied. She discusses how online research has enabled both staff and students to reach larger samples and gather data more quickly, positively impacting both teaching and career preparation. By embedding research directly into teaching methods, students experienced the full scope of behavioral science research firsthand - from study design and participant recruitment to data analysis. Watch on to discover innovative strategies and best practices to create a dynamic learning environment where students are actively engaged in the research process, equipping them with valuable skills for their professional futures.

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.

Additional Resources

Teaching Research Methods with Gorilla Blog

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

The Kings Business School class of 2021

UCL charitable giving project

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Q&A

+ Does Gorilla provide tools to simplify data analysis for students?

Yes, Gorilla’s platform is designed to make data analysis approachable. It encourages students to think about their research questions and hypotheses first, which naturally informs their data analysis plans. This approach can make statistics more intuitive, as students see how their choices relate directly to their research questions.

+ What are some best practices for engaging students in research through teaching?

A hands-on approach, where students can create their own research tasks, tends to be effective. We’ve found that students enjoy the applied aspect of Gorilla, and it helps reduce "stats anxiety" by making data analysis more accessible and relevant to their research.

+ Does Gorilla provide resources for creating practical teaching simulations with dummy data?

Yes, Gorilla offers curricula and guides, particularly in psychology. These materials help teachers set up courses, analyze data, and streamline the learning process. We also have an online support system that answers students’ questions, reducing the burden on instructors.

+ Can Gorilla capture audio files, such as gathering verbal responses from participants?

Yes, Gorilla can capture audio responses. You can set up tasks to record participants’ voices, and once you download your data, these audio files will be included. Learn more here and here.

+ How easy is it to import experiments from other software, like E-Prime, into Gorilla?

Currently, Gorilla doesn’t have an E-Prime integration. However, there is a Qualtrics importer for survey and questionnaire imports. We’re also working on integrations with other task-building tools. If there’s significant demand for E-Prime integration, users can suggest it for our development roadmap.

+ Can Gorilla be used in clinical research settings, like medicine or surgery?

Absolutely. An example is a study where radiology students used Gorilla to analyze CT scans, identifying potential medical issues. Gorilla recreated the CT scan environment, allowing for interactive tasks similar to what they’d use on medical devices. This setup can be adapted to various clinical training scenarios.

+ Can Gorilla be used in GIS (Geographic Information System) applications, such as environmental health data collection?

While Gorilla primarily supports cognitive psychology and related fields, it may support integration with GIS tools if they can connect via USB. For specialized setups, please contact Gorilla for more guidance.

+ How does Gorilla’s pricing work, and does it cover participant recruitment?

Gorilla has different subscription tiers, including department and lab packages. Recruitment fees for services like Prolific or MTurk are separate. Alternatively, users can distribute a study link for unpaid participants at no extra cost.

+ Is there a university-wide subscription option available for Gorilla?

Yes, Gorilla offers bespoke university-wide subscriptions in addition to department, lab, and individual researcher plans. Find out more about pricing here.