The Wharton Behavioral Lab

The Wharton Behavioral Lab (WBL) provides world-class support to help Wharton faculty and students investigate fundamental questions about how people think, act, and make decisions. The WBL staff, technology, and lab space enhance the productivity of scholars at Wharton by recruiting participants and running experiments.

The Wharton Behavioral Lab hosts two 20-seat computer labs, six focus (interview) rooms, one control room, and a waiting area.

Studies typically run multiple days a week, hitting an average number of 250 participants per session, per week.

Sessions can be in-person in our physical lab, or be sent to our panel remotely. Each session is overseen by our lab coordinators and research assistants.

The WBL uses differing technology based on researcher preference and need, and any necessary software is added to the rooms depending on the session running.

More information about our technology can be found here.

  • A modern computer lab with numbered workstations, each equipped with a computer, chair, and a partition for privacy. The room has a clean, neutral design.
  • A room with rows of partitioned cubicles, each equipped with a computer, keyboard, and mouse. The cubicles have numbers for identification, likely representing a call center or computer lab setup.
  • A room with workstations featuring computers and numbered partitions, arranged in two rows. Black chairs are placed at each desk, creating a structured and organized environment.
  • A small conference room with a rectangular table and several black chairs. A camera is mounted on the wall, and there are electrical outlets nearby.
  • A small, minimalist conference or meeting room with a table and several chairs. The room has white walls and some mounted equipment, such as cameras, possibly for security or video conferencing.
  • A security camera mounted within a white enclosure on a wall.
  • Image of a computer lab or testing center with individual workstations separated by gray dividers. Each station has a monitor, keyboard, and chair.
  • A grid of surveillance camera views showing several small breakout rooms. Each room contains a table, chairs, and wall-mounted equipment. The views are from different angles labeled with room numbers.
  • The image shows a series of security camera feeds from different breakout meeting rooms. Each room contains a table with several chairs, and there are recycling bins visible in some corners. The rooms are simply furnished with a neutral color palette.
  • A security control room setup with a computer monitor displaying multiple surveillance camera feeds, a keyboard, mouse, microphone, and communication device on a desk.
  • A person wearing headphones sits at a desk using a computer. The monitor displays a webpage, and a sign on the desk says "WAIT TO BEGIN." The setting appears to be a study or work cubicle.
  • A small group of people sitting around a table in a room, engaged in conversation and smiling, suggesting a friendly and collaborative environment.

The WBL Utilities:

  • Two 20-cubicle labs (Labs 401 and 403)
  • Each cubicle is private/enclosed and contains a desktop computer, headset, keyboard, mouse, and pen
  • Each lab has an overhead observation camera
  • 6 focus (interview) rooms with observation cameras, a table, and chairs that can hold up to 6 people (Labeled 406, 407, 409, 424, 426, 428)
  • Control room with two-way mirrors for observing activity in each lab and a computer set up to observe the focus room cameras, both recordings and in real-time (with audio)
  • Two check-in and check-out windows in the waiting area
  • Full-time lab staff always present during sessions

More information on the WBL can be found below:

Information for Researchers
Information for Participants
Hardware and Software

Connect with Us

Participant Registration
Experimenter Registration
null

Wharton Behavioral Lab
Steinberg Hall – Dietrich Hall
3620 Locust Walk
Suite 400
Philadelphia, PA 19104

Email: Wharton Behavioral Lab