Craigslist, the online classified-ad site now running in more than 100 American cities, isn’t all apartment listings and personal ads: In New York City, the Web site has become a recruitment center for test subjects and focus-group participants.
Researchers leading studies on diseases like HIV and glaucoma—and companies conducting marketing surveys—have had no trouble locating eager test participants on the site. But that doesn’t mean that Craigslist is ready for human-research prime time: Users of the site don’t amount to a particularly broad subject pool, and "professional" test takers are often the first to respond to any focus-group ad. (New York)
Developing online and blended learning programs requires research and collaboration. Learn how top technology companies are partnering with campuses across the country to advance online learning as it becomes an increasingly important aspect of higher education.