Convenient yet not a convenience sample: Jury pools as experimental subject pools

Area of Science:

• Social Sciences
• Psychology
• Political Science

Background:

• Researchers often use student subject pools, raising concerns about generalizability (the "college sophomore problem").
• Accessible and inexpensive data sources are crucial for scholarly advancement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate jury pools as a viable alternative data source for research.
• To examine the strengths and weaknesses of using jury pools in academic studies.

Main Methods:

• Review of pragmatic considerations: access, content, administration, and costs.
• Analysis of jury pool sample quality: response rates, diversity, and representativeness.

Main Results:

• Jury pools present practical advantages in terms of cost and heterogeneity.
• Evidence suggests jury pools can offer good response rates, diversity, and representativeness when managed properly.

Conclusions:

• Jury pools are a promising data source for researchers seeking broader generalizability.
• Careful consideration of limitations is necessary for effective utilization of jury pool data.