Understanding Experimenter Bias

What was Clever Hans known for?

• Performing complex mathematical calculations

• Understanding human language

• Responding to subtle cues from his owner

• Communicating with other animals

What is a primary cause of experimenter bias?

• Inadequate sample size

• Human inability to remain completely objective

• Poor experimental design

• Lack of proper equipment

In the Rosenthal and Fode experiment, what influenced the students' perception of the rats?

• The rats' actual abilities

• The students' prior experience with rats

• The information given about the rats' intelligence

• The complexity of the maze

What is design bias?

• Providing additional information to participants

• Using faulty equipment

• Shaping methodology to confirm a hypothesis

• Choosing participants based on convenience

Which type of bias occurs when certain demographics are underrepresented in a study?

• Measurement bias

• Sampling bias

• Design bias

• Response bias

What is the Hawthorne effect?

• Researchers influence results by their expectations

• Equipment malfunctions during data collection

• Participants answer questions inaccurately

• Participants perform better because they know they are being observed

How can experimenter bias be minimized during data analysis?

• By using a single-blind technique

• By increasing the sample size

• By conducting a peer review

• By employing a blind analysis

What is a double-blind study?

• A study where the results are not revealed until the end

• A study where the hypothesis is hidden from the participants

• A study where only the participants are unaware of the treatment

• A study where neither the participants nor the experimenters know who receives the treatment

Why is peer review important in research?

• It reduces the cost of the study

• It increases the sample size

• It identifies potential biases and ensures reliability

• It ensures the study is published quickly

What is one method to reduce interaction between experimenters and participants?

• Conducting interviews in person

• Increasing the number of participants

• Using complex equipment

• Pre-recording instructions