A study demonstrated that if a participant is being interviewed by a person who taps her feet, the participant is also more likely to tap his feet; and if he is being interviewed by a person who scratches her head, the participant is also more likely to scratch his head. Which principle does this finding BEST demonstrate?

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Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This finding best demonstrates the principle that the act of observing behavior can change that behavior. This is known as the Hawthorne effect, which is the phenomenon where people modify their behavior when they know they are being observed. In the study, the behavior of the interviewer (tapping feet or scratching head) influenced the behavior of the participant being interviewed, demonstrating the impact of observation on behavior.

A Study Demonstrated That If a Participant Is Being Interviewed