A nationally funded online laboratory as infrastructure for psychological research

There is currently a high level of science policy interest in the development of research infrastructures in all scientific areas. We propose to promote the idea of a national online laboratory within this discourse. This laboratory should provide access to a large participant pool, should offer software tools, provide education on Internet-based research methodologies, and should interface with data archives. The advantages of such a facility on the basis of efficiency concerns as well as considerations concerning research methodology and research ethics are outlined. We conclude with a discussion of mid-term developmental potentials of a nationally funded online laboratory.