Gorilla: A more Powerful Alternative to PsychoPy + Pavlovia for Behavioural Research
PsychoPy, PsychoPy Builder, and Pavlovia are three tools (and two programming languages) that you need to learn and pull together to reach your aim. Some tools need to be downloaded, some are online.
That can be a hurdle for researchers without a coding background while those who can code and have the time for it can create almost anything they want. But is the elaborate and labor-intensive setup the best use of your time?
Before we delve deeper, let’s clarify the difference between PsychoPy, PsychoPy Builder, PsychoJS, and Pavlovia. PsychoPy is a Python-based application for running experiments in the lab. PsychoPy Builder, on the other hand, is a tool within PsychoPy that allows you to build tasks.
These tasks can then be exported to JavaScript (PsychoJS) for online deployment. Pavlovia is the platform where these online experiments are hosted. Despite these distinctions, it’s common for people to refer to the entire suite of tools simply as “PsychoPy”.
Enter Gorilla, an all-in-one platform for online behavioural research. With Gorilla, you can create and deploy experiments, surveys, and even multiplayer tasks right from your browser. No coding required. All participant data is automatically stored on safe and secure servers, ensuring data security and integrity.
Plus, with Gorilla, you can collaborate online and save different versions of your experiment and keep track of collaborators’ work, all in the cloud.
As a Research Coordinator, managing multiple projects at once was always a hassle, especially with tools that were hard to navigate like PsychoPy. However, transitioning to Gorilla has been a blessing.
The user-friendly interface made it easy for both my team and myself to adapt quickly. Now, even the undergrads and grads I work with find it easier to build and execute studies in Gorilla compared to PsychoPy. Thanks to Gorilla, our workflow has improved tremendously, and I can confidently say it was the right choice for us.
- Compiled feedback by users transitioning from PsychoPy to Gorilla
Compare the Features: PsychoPy + Pavlovia and Gorilla
PsychoPy+Pavlovia |
Gorilla |
|
|---|---|---|
| Survey | With Survey JS |
✅ |
| Reaction Time Tasks | With PsychoPy Builder |
✅ |
| Game Builder | ❌ |
✅ |
| Multiplayer | ❌ |
✅ |
| Shop Builder | ❌ |
✅ |
| Experiment Config | With PsychoPy Builder |
✅ |
| Hosting | With Pavlovia |
✅ |
| Open Access | With PsychoPy Builder |
✅ |
| Closed Source and Paid for | With Pavlovia |
✅ |
| What-You-See-Is-What-You-Get Interface | ❌ |
✅ |
| Support Desk | ❌ |
✅ |
| Scripting & Extensibility | With PsychoJS |
✅ |
| ISO27001 Servers | ❌ |
✅ |
| Javascript | Needed for PsychoJS, Pavlovia, Survey JS |
Can use, don’t have to |
| Python | Needed for PsychoPy Builder |
Not needed! |
The Nitty Gritty: PsychoPy+Pavlovia vs Gorilla
Features: PsychoPy+Pavlovia and Gorilla
PsychoPy+Pavlovia |
Gorilla |
|
|---|---|---|
| Example Questionnaire |
✅
|
✅
|
| Collaborate with Users |
✅
|
✅
|
| Restore Previous Versions (Version Control) |
✅
|
✅
|
| Insert Images |
✅
|
✅
|
| Insert Videos |
✅
|
✅
|
| Insert Audio |
✅
|
✅
|
| Ranking Widgets |
✅
|
✅
|
| Date Entry Widget (with Conversion) |
✅
|
✅
|
| Restricted Date Entry Widget (GDPR) |
❌
|
✅
|
| Randomisation of Questions on Page |
✅
|
✅
|
| Randomisation of Questions on Page (Except Top) |
✅
|
✅
|
| Counterbalancing |
✅
|
✅
|
| Embedded Data/Store/Carry Forward Choices |
✅
|
✅
|
| Branching Based on Responses and Conditions |
✅
|
✅
|
| Add Custom Script |
❌
|
✅
|
| Add Custom Scoring |
❌
|
✅
|
| Optional Back Button |
✅
|
✅
|
| Right-aligning specific text |
✅
|
✅
|
| Change Text Size on Widgets |
✅
|
✅
|
| Questionnaire Adjusts for Screen Sizes |
✅
|
✅
|
| Browser Restrictions |
❌
|
✅
|
| Country Restrictions |
❌
|
✅
|
| Automatic Time Out Exclusions |
❌
|
✅
|
| Browser Information |
❌
|
✅
|
| Monitor Information |
✅
|
✅
|
| Device Information |
❌
|
✅
|
| Total questionnaire Time |
✅
|
✅
|
| Download Data from Incomplete Participants |
✅
|
✅
|
| Upload to Shared Library (Open Materials) |
✅
|
✅
|
| Webinars |
❌
|
✅
|
| Office Hours |
❌
|
✅
|
| GDPR-compliant |
✅
|
✅
|
The nittiest grittiest: Here’s our Questionnaire Builder 2 showcase featuring its components in detail.
Beyond Surveys: The Power of Behavioural Research with Gorilla
If you’re a behavioural researcher looking for a user-friendly, all-in-one platform that doesn’t require programming knowledge, Gorilla is the answer. With its wide range of features, including visual builders, reaction-time tasks, games, multiplayer tasks, and shopping simulations, Gorilla offers capabilities that PsychoPy can’t match.
The collaborative features in Gorilla were a breath of fresh air, enabling true real-time cooperation which was lacking in other platforms we tried.
The reliability of audio playback and data integrity in Gorilla put my mind at ease, knowing that our research quality would not be compromised.
I no longer dread the technical hitches we used to encounter, and I can focus more on the research.
- Compilation of feedback received from various users about their experience transitioning from PsychoPy to Gorilla
So why wait? With Gorilla, you can push the boundaries of behavioural research and uncover insights that go beyond traditional self-reporting questionnaires or stand-alone tasks. Make the switch to Gorilla today and take your behavioural research to the next level. Sign up for free today and explore our intuitive task and experiment builder at your own pace.
Want to learn more? Join our next onboarding webinar for a comprehensive guide to all that Gorilla has to offer. You’ll see first-hand how our platform can help you take your own research online.
If you’re considering Gorilla for your lab or department, we’re here to help. Reach out to schedule a call with our team. We’d love to discuss how Gorilla can meet your specific needs and streamline your research process.
Make the switch to Gorilla today and take your behavioural research to the next level. Your next findings could be just a click away.