What are "demand characteristics" in experimental research?
A) When neither the subjects nor an assistant helping the experimenter know specifics about the treatment or how hypothesis is being tested.
B) When subjects in a control group "demand" to be treated the same as the subjects receiving the treatment.
C) When an experimenter deceives subjects about the experiment's true nature, then later tells them what it is really about.
D) When subjects pick up clues about the hypothesis of the experiment and change their behavior to do what they think will confirm the experimenter's hypothesis.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Demand characteristics refer to cues in an experiment that make participants aware of what the experimenter expects to find or how participants are supposed to behave. This awareness can lead participants to alter their behavior in a way that they believe aligns with these expectations, potentially skewing the results of the study.

What Are "Demand Characteristics" in Experimental Research