Abstract
Online data collection within social and behavioral research is burgeoning. For surveying individuals online, researchers are increasingly relying on online panels and similar subject pools. phpPanelAdmin is a Web-based platform that is intended to assist researchers in quickly setting up and managing an online panel. phpPanelAdmin solves many problems that can arise when one is collecting data in online panels. As an open-source program placed under GNU General Public License, phpPanelAdmin (www.goeritz.net/panelware) is not only free of charge but free of restrictions on its use, modification, and distribution. Building a new online panel—which before required weeks and special skills—is now possible within minutes and at no cost. Furthermore, phpPanelAdmin can be connected to an existing online panel or even be used for managing offline subject pools. Functions include creating a panel sign-up form; automatically unfolding the panel database; searching for panelists; viewing, modifying, and deleting panelists’ data; deleting and cloning variables; drawing samples; sending e-mail to panelists; exporting data; displaying panel statistics at a glance; identifying duplicates; creating and managing e-mail templates; executing user-defined SQL statements; and obtaining help.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Barchard, K. A., & Williams, J. (2008). Practical advice for conducting ethical online experiments and surveys for United States psychologists. Behavior Research Methods, 40, 1111–1128. doi:10.3758/ BRM.40.4.1111
Batinic, B., & Moser, K. (2005). Determinanten der Rücklaufquote in Online-Panels [Determinants of response rates in online panels]. Zeitschrift für Medienpsychologie, 17, 64–74. doi:10.1026/1617-6383.17.2.64
Birnbaum, M. H. (2004). Human research and data collection via the Internet. Annual Review of Psychology, 55, 803–832. doi:10.1146/ annurev.psych.55.090902.141601
Bošnjak, M., & Tuten, T. L. (2003). Prepaid and promised incentives in Web surveys: An experiment. Social Science Computer Review, 21, 208–217. doi:10.1177/0894439303021002006
Couper, M. P. (2000). Web surveys: A review of issues and approaches. Public Opinion Quarterly, 64, 464–494. doi:10.1086/318641
Fricker, R. D., & Schonlau, M. (2002). Advantages and disadvantages of Internet research surveys: Evidence from the literature. Field Methods, 14, 347–367. doi:10.1177/152582202237725
Göritz, A. S. (2006). Cash lotteries as incentives in online panels. Social Science Computer Review, 24, 445–459. doi:10.1177/ 0894439305286127
Göritz, A. S. (2007). Using online panels in psychological research. In A. N. Joinson, K. Y. A. McKenna, T. Postmes, & U.-D. Reips (Eds.), The Oxford handbook of Internet psychology (pp. 473–485). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Göritz, A. S. (2008). The long-term effect of material incentives on participation in online panels. Field Methods, 20, 211–225. doi:10.1177/1525822X08317069
Göritz, A. S., & Birnbaum, M. H. (2005). Generic HTML Form Processor: A versatile PHP script to save Web-collected data into a MySQL database. Behavior Research Methods, 37, 703–710.
Göritz, A. S., Funke, F., & Paul, K. I. (2009). Donations to charity as an incentive in Web-based studies. Manuscript in preparation.
Göritz, A. S., Reinhold, N., & Batinic, B. (2002). Online panels. In B. Batinic, U.-D. Reips, & M. Bošnjak (Eds.), Online social sciences (pp. 27–47). Seattle: Hogrefe & Huber.
Göritz, A. S., & Stieger, S. (2009). The impact of the field time on response, retention, and response completeness in list-based Web surveys. International Journal of Human—Computer Studies, 67, 342–348. doi:10.1016/j.ijhcs.2008.10.002
Göritz, A. S., & Wolff, H.-G. (2007). Lotteries as incentives in longitudinal Web studies. Social Science Computer Review, 25, 99–110. doi:10.1177/0894439306292268
Göritz, A. S., Wolff, H.-G., & Goldstein, D. G. (2008). Individual payments as a longer-term incentive in online panels. Behavior Research Methods, 40, 1144–1149. doi:10.3758/BRM.40.4.1144
Göritz, A. S., Wolff, H.-G., & Goldstein, D. G. (2009). Paying consumers via PayPal for their opinions. Manuscript submitted for publication.
Kraut, R., Olson, J., Banaji, M., Bruckman, A., Cohen, J., & Couper, M. P. (2004). Psychological research online: Report of the Board of Scientific Affairs’ Advisory Group on the Conduct of Research on the Internet. American Psychologist, 59, 105–117. doi:10.1037/0003-066X.59.2.105
Tuten, T. L., Galešić, M., & Bošnjak, M. (2004). Effects of immediate versus delayed notification of prize draw results on response behavior in Web surveys: An experiment. Social Science Computer Review, 22, 377–384. doi:10.1177/0894439304265640
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
This research was supported by Hans-Frisch-Foundation Grant 07-05.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Göritz, A.S. Building and managing an online panel with phpPanelAdmin. Behavior Research Methods 41, 1177–1182 (2009). https://doi.org/10.3758/BRM.41.4.1177
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BRM.41.4.1177

