Experimental design and biometric research. Toward innovations
Experimental design and biometric research. Toward innovations
Contributor(s): Sylwester Białowąs (Editor)
Subject(s): Economy, Business Economy / Management, Methodology and research technology, Marketing / Advertising
Published by: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Ekonomicznego w Poznaniu
Keywords: research;innovations;experiments;eye-tracking;scientific methods;sustainability;sustainable development;design;
Summary/Abstract: This e-book aims to present the most critical aspects of knowledge about using experiments in economics and practical tools for using them. The topic is extended to the more advanced and increasing in popularity area of biometric research. The book is divided into three parts mirroring experimentation. The first part provides theoretical background and tips about organising own research. The chapter is concluded with a guide focused on writing a research report in APA style. This part includes an example of the actual research report. The next part has two chapters, and both are guided tours allowing to plan and conduct eye-tracking research and electrodermal activity research (EDA). The chapters contain details about preparing experiments, conducting them, using the dedicated software to analyse collected data and interpreting the default charts. The last part is devoted to the data analysis and is universal, goes beyond the biometric experiments. There are three chapters in this part covering the standard procedures used in the analysis of experiments. The first part includes tests for one hypothesis: parametric t-test and One-Way ANOVA and non-parametric siblings: Mann Whitney U test and Kruskal-Wallis test. The next part describes tests allowing testing more hypotheses: ANOVA without repetition and ANOVA with repetitions. Furthermore, the last chapter deals with dependent samples, which are a popular approach in experiments. This part describes the dependent sample t-test and Wilcoxon test. The effect sizes calculations are included; each test is shown with screenshots from SPSS and some additional screenshots from Excel. This approach allows following the procedure step by step. The examples help easily understand procedures and interpretations; they were chosen from areas of sustainability and innovations to match the general idea of the e-books series prepared within the CENETSIE program. The book contains texts that can be useful in the teaching process. It can be helpful in graduate programs in economics and business schools. Programs of doctoral schools cab benefit from this book as well.
- E-ISBN-13: 978-83-8211-079-1
- Page Count: 163
- Publication Year: 2021
- Language: English
Experimental design
Experimental design
(Experimental design)
- Author(s):Sylwester Białowąs, Atanaska Reshetkova, Adrianna Szyszka
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Economy, Methodology and research technology
- Page Range:9-35
- No. of Pages:27
- Keywords:scientific methods;experiement;design;
- Summary/Abstract:Experiment is a research method appropriate to examine causal relationships, also in relation to the current problems of science, including sustainable development. Conducting experiments can take place in laboratory conditions, but also in natural environments. The main objective of an experiment is always to test what the researcher actually wants and to obtain results that can be generalised to the entire population. In other words, planning experiments requires considering many aspects related to their internal and external validity. The key aspect that needs to be considered in conducting experiments is proper problem defining, as well as the concepts of causality, manipulation or null and alternative hypotheses. It is also worth bearing in mind thatin social sciences, when engaging participants in research, caution must be exercised. Depending on whether each participant of the experiment is exposed to all conditions or different people test different ones, the classification of experiments is distinguished into within-subjects and between-subjects design. In this chapter, the most commonly used experimental designs in this division are presented. However, the experimental method offers more complex schemes such as randomised block design or Latin square design. Finally, the obtained findings should be properly presented—in the form of a report following APA standards.
Eye-tracking research
Eye-tracking research
(Eye-tracking research)
- Author(s):Sylwester Białowąs, Adrianna Szyszka
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Economy, Methodology and research technology
- Page Range:39-60
- No. of Pages:22
- Keywords:scientific methods;eye-tracking method;research;
- Summary/Abstract:Eye movements provide information on subconscious reactions in response to stimuli and are a reflection of attention and focus. With regard to visual activity, four types of eye movements—fixations, saccades, smooth pursuits and blinks—can be distinguished. Fixations—the number and distribution, total fixation time or average fixation duration are among the most common measures. The capabilities of this research method also allow the determination of scanpaths that track gaze on the image as well as heat- and focus maps, which visually represent points of gaze focus. A key concept in eye-tracking that allows for more in-depth analysis is areas of interest (AOI)—measures can then be taken for selected parts of the visual stimulus. On the other hand, the area of gaze outside the scope of analysis is called white space. The software allows for comparisons of static and non-static stimuli and provides a choice of template, dataset, metrics or data format. In conducting eye-tracking research, proper calibration is crucial, which means that the participant’s gaze should be adjusted to the internal model of the eye-tracking software. In addition, attention should be paid to such aspects as time and spatial control. The exposure time for each participants hould be identical. The testing space should be well-lit and at a comfortable temperature.
Research on electrodermal activity
Research on electrodermal activity
(Research on electrodermal activity)
- Author(s):Bartłomiej Pierański, Jakub Berčík
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Economy, Methodology and research technology, Marketing / Advertising
- Page Range:61-88
- No. of Pages:28
- Keywords:scientific methods;electrodermal activity;research;measurment tools;
- Summary/Abstract:In this chapter, a method of physiological measurements—that is detection of electrodermal activity based on the sectonic activity of eccrine sweat glands—is discussed. It is believed that the excretion of sweat, which is regulated by the nervous system acting independently of human will, is an indicator of a person’s emotional arousal as a result of specific stimuli. Hence, the electrodermal reaction can be used in diagnosing emotional arousal caused by, e.g. specific products, advertisements or elements of the in-store space. Electrical activity of the skin is caused by two types of stimuli: sustained and one-off. Sustained stimuli have a continuous effect on the body over a relatively long period of time. On the other hand, one-off stimuli have a relatively strong and very short-lasting effect. This type is defined as novel, unexpected, significant or aversive. Electrodermal activity is measured on the skin surface (Strelau, 2006). Generally speaking, the measurement of electrodermal activity is one of the biometric measurements. Biometrics is a universal term that represents measurements of the body’s physiological responses—not directly of the brain—to external stimuli that are felt through the senses (Pradeep,2010; Berčík & Rybanská, 2017). The electrodermal method allows to measure either electrical resistance or its inverse, i.e. the electrical conductivity of the skin. These measurements are carried out while a small current flows through the skin from an external source. Electrodermal activity measurement is performed with the use of special electrodes, electrode gels and recording devices. The available equipment for the analysis of electordermal activity is characterised by relatively low cost (compared to other devices for physiological measurements) of purchase and operation. Moreover, the electrodermal activity measurement is non-invasive andcarries no risk to the health or life of the test subjects.
Independent samples—single hypothesis testing
Independent samples—single hypothesis testing
(Independent samples—single hypothesis testing)
- Author(s):Sylwester Białowąs, Blaženka Knežević, Adrianna Szyszka, Berislav Žmuk
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Economy, Marketing / Advertising
- Page Range:91-127
- No. of Pages:37
- Keywords:scientific methods;SPSS;research;
- Summary/Abstract:In this chapter, the “between-subject” is dealt with, as well as the single hypothesis approach. Both parametrical and non-parametrical versions of the tests are described. All tests are introduced, and the full, step-by-step SPSS guidance is presented. The sections regarding effect size and about writing the report are also included.
Independent samples—more hypotheses testing
Independent samples—more hypotheses testing
(Independent samples—more hypotheses testing)
- Author(s):Blaženka Knežević, Berislav Žmuk
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Economy, Methodology and research technology, Marketing / Advertising
- Page Range:129-151
- No. of Pages:23
- Keywords:scientific methods;ANOVA;research;
- Summary/Abstract:Two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) without replication is called a factorial ANOVA with two factors. It is used to test if there is a significant difference between means of several sets of data (groups) dependable on two independent factors. It is applied when we have one measurement variable and two nominal variables (usually called ‘factors’ or ‘main effects’). In this chapter hypotheses and assumptions of the method are given. Then the example of the procedure of two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) without replication is described in details. The two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with replication is utilized to simultaneously test the effects of varying two variables for a sample which consists of more than one respondent per a certain combination of variables. The example of the procedure of two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with replication is described in details in this chapter. For both procedures the easy to follow examples shows the procedure step-by-step. The practical part includes the guidance for SPSS and for Excel.
Dependent samples—single hypothesis testing
Dependent samples—single hypothesis testing
(Dependent samples—single hypothesis testing)
- Author(s):Sylwester Białowąs, Adrianna Szyszka
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Economy, Methodology and research technology
- Page Range:153-163
- No. of Pages:11
- Keywords:scientific methods;SPSS;research;
- Summary/Abstract:This chapter deals with the approach of “within subjects” and focuses on single hypothesis testing. Both parametrical and non-parametrical versions are described. Every test is introduced, and the full step-by-step SPSS guidance is presented. The sections about effect size and about writing the report are included as well.
