title: Using NetCloak to develop server-side Web-based experiments without writing CGI programs
abstract: Server-side experiments use the Web server, rather than the participant's browser, to handle tasks such as random assignment, eliminating inconsistencies with Java and other client-side applications. Heretofore, experimenters wishing to create server-side experiments have had to write programs to create common gateway interface (CGI) scripts in programming languages such as Perl and C++. NetCloak uses simple, HTML-like commands to create CGIs. We used NetCloak to implement an experiment on probability estimation. Measurements of time on task and participants' IP addresses assisted quality control. Without prior training, in less than 1 month, we were able to use NetCloak to design and create a Web-based experiment and to help graduate students create three Web-based experiments of their own
keyphrases: NetCloak server-side Web-based experiments CGI programs Web server random assignment Java client-side applications Perl probability estimation IP addresses quality control graduate students common gateway interface scripts C++ language HTML Internet behavioral data psychology