Biophysical Measurement in Experimental Social Science Research

Biophysical Measurement in Experimental Social Science Research is an ideal primer for the experimental social scientist wishing to update their knowledge and skillset in the area of laboratory-based biophysical measurement. Many behavioral laboratories across the globe have acquired increasingly sophisticated biophysical measurement equipment, sometimes for particular research projects or for financial or institutional reasons. Yet the expertise required to use this technology and integrate the measures it can generate on human subjects into successful social science research endeavors is often scarce and concentrated amongst a small minority of researchers. This book aims to open the door to wider and more productive use of biophysical measurement in laboratory-based experimental social science research. Suitable for doctoral students through to established researchers, the volume presents examples of the successful integration of biophysical measures into analyses of human behavior, discussions of the academic and practical limitations of laboratory-based biophysical measurement, and hands-on guidance about how different biophysical measurement devices are used. A foreword and concluding chapters comprehensively synthesize and compare biophysical measurement options, address academic, ethical and practical matters, and address the broader historical and scientific context. Research chapters demonstrate the academic potential of biophysical measurement ranging fully across galvanic skin response, heart rate monitoring, eye tracking and direct neurological measurements. An extended Appendix showcases specific examples of device adoption in experimental social science lab settings.

Author Biography

Gigi Foster is an Associate Professor with the School of Economics at the University of New South Wales, and holds a BA from Yale majoring in Ethics, Politics, and Economics, and a PhD in Economics from the University of Maryland. Her work spans many literatures, including education, social influence, corruption, lab experiments, and time use. She has authored or edited over 25 academic works published in a wide variety of economic and multidisciplinary outlets with co-authors from around the world. She serves the profession in many roles, including as the most junior female member of Australia’s National Economic Panel.