The college sophomore as guinea pig: setting the record straight
Article Abstract:
An article published in the American Management Review criticized the extensive use of college students as subjects in organizational research projects. The paper cited investigations in which samples of student and non-student responses to similar subjects showed some significant differences. Because of the lack of external validity in student samples, studies that use student subjects should be considered suspect. While there are some potential limitations to using students, the case against using students in research is overstated.
Publication Name: Academy of Management Review
Subject: Business, general
ISSN: 0363-7425
Year: 1987
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The 'Science of the Sophomore' revisited: from conjecture to empiricism
Article Abstract:
An evaluation of 32 studies that used student and nonstudent subjects under identical conditions revealed two sets of conflicting findings. Studies that did not use statistical techniques to measure between-group differences showed no differences in test results, while those that did employ such techniques showed significant test result differences. The latter type of study's findings may arise from students' familiarity with experimental designs and associated goals. 10
Publication Name: Academy of Management Review
Subject: Business, general
ISSN: 0363-7425
Year: 1986
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Student guinea pigs: porcine predictors and particularistic phenomena
Article Abstract:
The validity of using student subjects in organizational research is called into question for two reasons. Empirical evidence suggests that reliance on student samples inhibits external validity. Secondly, researchers who use student groups are often more motivated by convenience than by a wish to replicate a study within different homogeneous samples.
Publication Name: Academy of Management Review
Subject: Business, general
ISSN: 0363-7425
Year: 1987
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