What tool should I use to program my experiment?
- Three common tools in experimental economics
- Other tools
- PsyToolkit, JsPsych, MATLAB, etc.
z-tree
- ideal for programming physical lab experiment
- a standalone software working with Windows, not Mac
- need to install software on every subject computer
oTree
- works with both physical & virtual experiments
- programmed in Python, built with Django
- can be set up online - only needs an internet connection on each subject computer
- may need HTML, CSS, and/or JavaScript knowledge for complex features
Qualtrics
- works with both physical & virtual experiments
- no programming knowledge is required
- can be set up online - only needs an internet connection on each subject computer
- may need HTML, CSS, and/or JavaScript knowledge for complex features
Tools for psychology experiments
- since we study subjects’ decision making, we are more interested in collecting data input through keyboard & mouse in economic experiments. Popular tools like z-tree, oTree, and Qualtrics work perfectly okay for this.
- tools used in psychology work better in collecting real-time & unconscious responses like reaction time (RT) or mouse-tracking data, collecting which can be challenging in oTree.
Last updated: September 26, 2022 by Seura Ha