Building Software Based Experiments: Techniques, Tools, and Tips

Welcome to Jon Westfall’s Software Based Experiment Resource site. This site will begin it’s life to serve as a supplement to my contribution to the SJDM Computing Symposium, and continue on as a resource to other social scientists that seek simple solutions to building software. (Whoa, Holy Alliteration Batman!) If you have any questions, feel free to contact me for more information.

SK3 : An example of using Microsoft Visual Studio, Microsoft Internet Information Server, and Microsoft Frontpage extensions to build rich web-delivered data collection software. SK3 is a multi-stage escalation of commiment / Sunk Cost problem that presents the user various pieces of information and tracks what they look at, how long they look, and in what order they look before making a decision to continue to the next part or terminate the project. The problem used in SK3 is adapted from Schmidt & Calantone, “Escalation of commitment during new product development”, Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 30(2), 103-118

The source code provided here is licensed under the GPL. You are free to modify the work, however I do ask that you let me know of any modifications or revisions

SK3 is written in VB.NET, Visual Studio 2005

Pebl: The Psychology Experiment Based Language

LimeSurvey


Microsoft Dreamspark Program (Provides free versions of Microsoft development tools to undergraduate and graduate students at colleges or universities around the world)

Recover Master Lock Combinations!

I’ve always been fascinated by locks, for some odd reason. Master combination locks, the combination lock of choice for most of us it seems, are everywhere and were a staple for my existence as a student. Hall lockers needed a combination lock, gym lockers, orchestra lockers, etc… The result? Well, years past high school, I now have 3 or 4 master locks that I don’t have the combinations for. Thankfully, I found  this site and the  software tool that was created from it to find combinations! I even assembled a PDF document listing the instructions and all possible combinations once the last number was found. Great to print out and keep on hand, especially if you don’t remember where you downloaded the software! You can download the list of Lock Combinations.