Online Platforms Provide Access to Valid Eastern Samples

Western-centered (primarily American-centered) samples have long faced criticism, yet limited progress has been made to address this issue. The present research validates data from an Eastern culture—China—offering a promising solution. We conducted 11 preregistered studies with 18,256 Chinese and American online participants, examining well-established phenomena across various social science disciplines. The findings provide strong evidence that Chinese online platforms offer geographically and demographically diverse samples from across China. These participants are highly attentive and produce valid data. Additionally, we find tentative evidence that language is a surmountable barrier for Western researchers, as translation variations had little impact on Chinese participants’ responses in our tests. Finally, we share practical insights on using Chinese online platforms for data collection. We hope this paper encourages researchers to embrace diverse samples by trying them in their own research and appreciating it in the research of others.This preprint is also available on SSRN (https://ssrn.com/abstract=5488129). Both versions are identical.