When a change in the dependent variable could be due to the researcher's hypothesis or the participant's hypothesis, __________ is a threat to internal validity.
A)diffusion of treatments
B)instrumentation
C)placebo effect
D)demand characteristics

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Demand characteristics refer to the cues or clues present in the research design that unintentionally communicate to participants what the researcher expects to find or how they should behave. This can lead to changes in the dependent variable that are not due to the independent variable but rather to the participants' attempts to please the researcher or meet their expectations. Therefore, demand characteristics threaten internal validity when changes in the dependent variable could be due to the researcher's or the participant's hypothesis. Diffusion of treatments refers to participants in one group being influenced by the treatment received by participants in another group, which is a threat to internal validity in experimental designs. Instrumentation refers to changes in the measurement instrument or procedure that lead to changes in the dependent variable, which is a threat to internal validity in both experimental and non-experimental designs. Placebo effect refers to improvements in the dependent variable due to receiving a treatment that has no active ingredients or effects, which is a threat to internal validity in experimental designs that involve a placebo group. However, placebo effect is not related to the researcher's or the participant's hypothesis.

When a Change in the Dependent Variable Could Be Due