Laboratory experiments have a long history within sociology, with their ability to test causality and their utility for directly observing behavior providing key advantages. One influential social psychological field, status characteristics and expectation states theory, has almost exclusively used laboratory experiments to test the theory. Unfortunately, laboratory experiments are resource intensive, requiring a research pool, laboratory space, and considerable amounts of time. For these and other reasons, social scientists are increasingly exploring the possibility of moving experiments from the lab to an online platform. Despite the advantages of the online setting, the transition from the lab is challenging, especially when studying behavior. In this project, we develop methods to translate the traditional status characteristics experimental setting from the laboratory to online. We conducted parallel laboratory and online behavioral experiments using three tasks from the status literature, comparing each task’s ability to differentiate on the basis of status distinctions. The tasks produce equivalent results in the online and laboratory environment; however, not all tasks are equally sensitive to status differences. Finally, we provide more general guidance on how to move vital aspects of laboratory studies, such as debriefing, suspicion checks, and scope condition checks, to the online setting.

实验室实验在社会学领域有着悠久的历史，它们具有检验因果关系的能力以及直接观察行为的效用，具有关键优势。一个有影响力的社会心理学领域，即身份特征和期望状态理论，几乎专门用于实验室实验来检验该理论。不幸的是，实验室实验是资源密集型的，需要研究池，实验室空间和大量时间。由于这些及其他原因，社会科学家越来越多地探索将实验从实验室转移到在线平台的可能性。尽管具有在线设置的优势，但从实验室过渡仍然具有挑战性，尤其是在研究行为时。在这个项目中 我们开发了将传统状态特征实验设置从实验室转换为在线的方法。我们使用状态文献中的三个任务进行了并行的实验室和在线行为实验，比较了每个任务根据状态差异进行区分的能力。这些任务在在线和实验室环境中产生相同的结果；但是，并非所有任务都对状态差异同样敏感。最后，我们提供了有关如何将实验室研究的重要方面（如汇报，可疑检查和范围条件检查）转移到在线环境的更一般性指导。比较每个任务根据状态差异进行区分的能力。这些任务在在线和实验室环境中产生相同的结果；但是，并非所有任务都对状态差异同样敏感。最后，我们提供了有关如何将实验室研究的重要方面（如汇报，可疑检查和范围条件检查）转移到在线环境的更一般性指导。比较每个任务根据状态差异进行区分的能力。这些任务在在线和实验室环境中产生相同的结果；但是，并非所有任务都对状态差异同样敏感。最后，我们提供了有关如何将实验室研究的重要方面（如汇报，可疑检查和范围条件检查）转移到在线环境的更一般性指导。