Construction of a Research Requirement Participant Pool Using Open-Source Software

Recruiting undergraduate students to participate in research has long been an established practice within psychology. Although this data source has weaknesses, this involvement in the research process has considerable pedagogical value in teaching students research methodology. Most common software packages used to manage participant pools tend to be expensive, to the extent that it prohibits access for small institutions and departments. Highlighting the problem, we cite research related to using undergraduates as participants, pedagogical value of these experiences, and current trends in software distribution. We then provide evidence of successful implementation of open-source software (OSS) in educational settings, and conclude with OSS options capable of addressing the problem of access. By providing students research experiences, both as a researcher and as a participant, we enhance their understanding of this process. Secondary to this, we can foster within them a skill set that is valuable to disciplines outside of academia. The implementation of an OSS system to manage research participants provides a cost-effective means to expand the learning and research opportunities of available to students.