Problems With Experiments

Question 1

What are demand characteristics?

Answer 1

When subjects pick up cues during an experiment and modify their behaviour accordingly, affecting the results of the study

Question 2

How are demand characteristics reduced?

Answer 2

• Single blind procedure (Participants are not aware of aims or conditions, therefore they cannot seek cues about the aim)
• Independent groups (Experiment is not repeated, thereform participants cannot guess aim from that)
• Deception (Filler questions distract from true purpose, but it can be unethical)
• Experimental realism (Participants pay more attention to the task than the aims)

Question 3

What is researcher bias/investigator effects? What are some examples of this?

Answer 3

• When researchers influence the outcome of the experiment due to their behaviours
• Body language, tone, accent
• Physical characteristics
• Interpretation of data
• May give clues about how they want participants to behave

Question 4

How is researcher bias reduced?

Answer 4

Double blind trials, in which neither the participants or investigator know which condition participants are in