Hanna is participating as a member of the control group in an experimental study and she is trying to figure out what the study is about so that she can be a "good" subject. This behavior of Hanna has the potential of compromising the conclusions of the experiment and is an example of
A) demand characteristics.
B) deinstitutionalization.
C) double-blind.
D) negative psychology.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Hanna's behavior is an example of demand characteristics, which are cues that participants pick up on in a study that may lead them to modify their behavior or responses in a way that they think the researcher wants. This can compromise the validity of the study and lead to inaccurate conclusions. Therefore, it is important for researchers to minimize demand characteristics by creating a study design that keeps participants blind to the study's objectives and experimental condition.

Hanna Is Participating as a Member of the Control Group