Research in the Cloud

A project-oriented approach to teaching behavioral research methods, utilising real-world data to help students develop research skills.

This book uses a project-oriented approach to teach behavioral research methods. Students learn by engaging in real projects with data from over 2,500 online participants, covering everything from study design to data quality and the ethics of online research. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.Research in the Cloud reimagines how students learn behavioral research methods by focusing on active, project-based learning. This innovative textbook is built around 'CLABs' (Classroom-Laboratory hybrids) that integrate theoretical concepts with hands-on projects, allowing students to learn by doing. It provides dozens of research activities using real data collected from over 2,500 online participants, with all materials, datasets, and analysis instructions available on the Open Science Framework. The book guides students through a four-step progression, from understanding concepts to analyzing real data, engaging in guided research, and creating their own original studies. It incorporates the latest technology, including AI tools for tasks like creating measurement scales, and modern challenges like data quality in online research. This approach helps students to develop a comprehensive portfolio of skills, from statistical analysis to conducting randomized experiments and writing up their research findings. This book is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.