Although many organizations
have jumped onto the internet-data collection bandwagon, several issues still
need to be addressed.  For example,
are paper-pencil and internet-based tests of the same trait (e.g., personality
questionnaire) or ability (e.g., cognitive ability test) really equivalent?  Similarly, are there any reasons to
believe that employees respond to internet-based tests differently than they
would a paper-pencil test of the same trait or ability?

Naus, Philipp, and Samsi
(2008) set out to investigate these questions using three commonly used
psychological scales (Beck Depression Inventory, Short Form Health Survey, and
the Neo-Five Factor Inventory).

Although Naus et. al found
that the paper-pencil and internet-based survey formats performed equivalently
for the Beck Depression Inventory and the Short Form Health Survey, there were
differences for Neo-Five Factor Inventory (a commonly used personality
assessment tool).  What’s going on
here?

One possibility is that
responses were more socially desirable for the paper-pencil format, since a
researcher was present at the time.  That is, in the presence of an authority figure (i.e.,
researcher) participants may have responded in order to appear more self-controlled
and self-focused.  This is likely
much less of a concern when completing the same survey on a computer at home
(in PJs!).

Overall, respondents
perceived the internet-based format to be convenient, user-friendly,
comfortable and secure (All great things!).

So what can we conclude
about these findings?  Although
internet-based data collection methods have some advantages over paper-pencil
methods, there are some caveats to their use.  In some cases, the tests may operate differently due to the
particular format.  Unfortunately,
not much is known about how they might differ.  However, Naus et al.’s findings suggest internet-based
methods receive good reactions from employees and can save an organization time
and money!