Timing and selection effects within a psychology subject pool: Personality and sex matter

• Published in: Personality and individual differences Vol. 50; no. 3; pp. 355 - 359
• Main Authors: Witt, Edward A., Donnellan, M. Brent, Orlando, Matthew J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.02.2011; Elsevier
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; External validity; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Internet; Personality; Psychology; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Research methodology; Research participation; Selection effects; Social interactions. Communication. Group processes; Social psychology; Subject pool; Timing; Undergraduate students; Research participation; External validity; Personality; Subject pool; Research methodology; Human; Participation; University environment; Sex; Student; Extraversion introversion; Big Five personality model; Scientific research; Timing; Predictive factor
• ISSN: 0191-8869; 1873-3549
• DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2010.10.019

Previous work has raised concerns about the heavy use of college student samples in psychological research. The current study evaluates whether demographic and personality variables predict mode (online versus in-person) and timing (week of semester) of participation in a subject pool study. Results suggested that college students who chose in-person participation were more extraverted than students who chose to participate online whereas women and more conscientious students were more likely to participate earlier in the semester. These results suggest that researchers using college student samples should be aware of these within-pool differences and carefully consider how participant characteristics may affect the conclusions drawn from their work.