A researcher hypothesized that the drug amphetamine (a stimulant)improves learning. She explains her hypothesis to her participants and gives experimental group participants an amphetamine pill before they begin studying. Control group members get nothing. Later, she assesses how much each participant learned. Because of the hypothesis explanation and because the experimental group was given a pill that the other group did not receive, the experimental group will most likely expect to learn more. Thus, any observed differences between groups may reflect differences in expectation, not the actual effect of the drug, a problem known as the
A)anthropomorphic error.
B)research participant bias.
C)courtesy bias.
D)double-blind experimental effect.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The correct answer is research participant bias because this bias occurs when participants in a study behave differently simply because they know they are being studied or have expectations about what the study is supposed to find, not necessarily because of the experimental manipulation itself. In this scenario, the experimental group might perform better due to their expectations set by knowing the hypothesis and receiving a pill, rather than the actual effect of the drug.

A Researcher Hypothesized That the Drug Amphetamine (A Stimulant)improves Learning