Understanding the Real Cost of Open Sesame Experiment Platform
While Open Sesame is a valuable tool for running online experiments, understanding the real costs associated with its use is crucial. In this article, we’re going to delve into the complexities of Open Sesame's license model, unravel the potential hidden costs and provide some useful tips for keeping your expenses on track.
The License Model
Open Sesame offers varying license models designed to fit the specific needs of researchers—ranging from individual researchers conducting small-scale studies to large institutions needing to run multiple experiments simultaneously. The typical license includes unlimited use of the platform's essential features like creating and running cognitive tasks. However, it's important to remember that additional features can come with additional costs.
Cost of an Experiment With 100 Participants
For illustration, let’s consider a scenario where you’re running a simple cognitive experiment with 100 participants. In this case, the basic cost of using Open Sesame would be relatively low, since the platform is designed to support a high volume of concurrent experiments. However, if your experiment requires a higher level of detail or involves complex cognitive tasks, the cost can escalate quickly. Remember, hidden costs often lie in the finer details.
Hidden Costs:
One often-overlooked aspect of running online experiments is the recruitment and management of participants. Using platforms like www.cognition.run to recruit participants can add significantly to the overall cost of the experiment. Similarly, the cost of data storage and analysis can pile up over time. These are essential factors to consider when planning your budget.
Tips to Reduce Cost
- Plan Ahead: Design your behavioral experiments in advance and with precision. This will help you avoid unnecessary costs associated with running redundant tasks or conducting repetitive experiments.
- Leverage Free Tools: Use free, open-source software like jsPsych for additional psychological research functions. This can significantly reduce the overall cost of your experiment.
- Efficient Participant Recruitment: Rather than recruiting participants individually, consider using a participant pool. This may be cost-effective when dealing with large experimental groups.
In summary, while Open Sesame is a powerful tool for running remote studies, it's important to fully understand its cost structure. With careful planning and judicious use of resources, you can keep your costs to a minimum while still conducting cutting-edge psychological research.