When experimenter bias takes place,it means that
A) no placebos are used.
B) manipulation checks are invalid.
C) the experimenter influenced the performance of the participants.
D) the participants influenced the performance of the experimenter.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Experimenter bias occurs when the experimenter's expectations or beliefs about the outcome of the study influence the behavior or outcomes of the participants, thus invalidating the results. This is usually unintentional, but can greatly impact the validity of the study. Placebos and manipulation checks may be important control factors in reducing extraneous influences, but the primary issue with experimenter bias is the inadvertent influence of the experimenter on the study conditions. Choice A is not necessarily related to experimenter bias, as placebos are used specifically for controlling for the placebo effect, which is a different type of bias. Choice B is not necessarily related to experimenter bias, as manipulation checks are used to confirm that the experimental manipulations are effective, which is a different type of validity issue. Choice D is not accurate because the participants are not the ones influencing the experimenter; rather, it is the other way around.

When Experimenter Bias Takes Place,it Means That