How does a researcher reduce the effects of demand characteristics?
A)Discard data from anyone whose results are far from the mean.
B)Conceal the purpose of the experiment from the participants.
C)Allow participants to decide whether to be in the experimental or control group.
D)Keep informing the participants how well they are doing while the study is in progress.

Question

How does a researcher reduce the effects of demand characteristics?​
A)Discard data from anyone whose results are far from the mean.
B)​Conceal the purpose of the experiment from the participants.
C)​Allow participants to decide whether to be in the experimental or control group.
D)Keep informing the participants how well they are doing while the study is in progress.

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Concealing the purpose of the experiment from participants is the best way to reduce the effects of demand characteristics. When participants know the aim of the study, they might alter their behavior or responses to match what they think the researcher wants to see, which can compromise the validity of the results. Discarding data based on being far from the mean could be arbitrary and biased. Allowing participants to choose their group could lead to selection biases. Continuously informing participants about how they are performing could increase demand characteristics.

How Does a Researcher Reduce the Effects of Demand Characteristics?​

How Does a Researcher Reduce the Effects of Demand Characteristics?