ExNet III: A Multifunctional Instrument for Social Science Experimentation

在美国国家科学基金会的支持下，David Willer博士将设计ExNet（实验网络）III，这是一个用于社会科学实验研究的多用途仪器。该系统设在南卡罗来纳大学哥伦比亚分校的两个地点，将允许60名参与者在高度控制的情况下进行互动。通过该合同提供的计算机系统硬件的一个主要潜在目标是开发一个“网络实验室”，为了实现这一目标，ExNet III的软件将作为共享软件放在网络上。一旦放到网上，ExNet III将在南卡罗莱纳州以及国内和国际上的其他实验室进行实验。ExNet III将采用模块化编程架构构建，用于实验设计，可作为一系列未来研究的构建模块。通过标准化的数据记录，系统将自动归档新的研究，也便于归档以前的研究。由此产生的大型系统数据库是公开的，将鼓励一系列新的分析，包括使用计算方法的新理论的发展。在南卡罗莱纳，该实验室将支持社会学、经济学和会计学的研究。这包括网络交换理论、人类决策模型、议价行为、公共物品提供和拍卖竞价策略。该实验室将被研究生广泛使用，并在学生教育中发挥重要作用。

With National Science Foundation support Dr David Willer will design `ExNet (Experimental Network) III, a multipurpose instrument for experimental investigation in the social sciences. Based at two sites within the University of South Carolina at Columbia, the system will permit 60 participants to interact in highly controlled situations. A primary underlying objective of the computer system hardware provided through this award is to develop a `Web-Lab` and to accomplish this goal ExNet III's software will be placed on the Web as shareware. Once on the Web, ExNet III will run experiments both at South Carolina as well as other laboratories nationally and internationally. ExNet III will be constructed using modular programming architecture for experimental designs that can be used as building blocks for an array of future studies. By standardizing data recording, the system will archive new research automatically and also facilitate the archiving of previous research. The resulting large systematic databases, being public, will encourage an array of new analyses, including hopefully the development of new theory using computational approaches. At South Carolina, the laboratory will support research in sociology, economics and accounting. These involve network exchange theory, models of human decision making, bargaining behavior, public good provision and auction bidding strategies. The laboratory will be widely used by graduate students and play an important role in student education.