This chapter will offer guidelines for designing online studies. Differences in the hardware and software of the Internet can alter its appearance and functioning. Therefore, researchers must be particularly attentive to their choices to ensure that instruments are presented and delivered in a uniform, yet usable manner to each participant.

Researchers have numerous options in constructing the instrument from text appearance to question formats to visual accoutrements. This chapter  will review various design features, such as (a) display configuration, (b) color, (c) text appearance, (d) item style, (e) alignment, (f) item delivery, and (g) length, and offer alternatives aimed at reducing demands on users and their computers. It will describe the considerations for introducing audio and visual stimuli. Finally, it will offer insights into how to instruct participants to complete studies in a timely, accurate manner.