Based on investigations with the horse Clever Hans,an important factor researchers should seek to control when testing whether dogs can sniff cancer in urine samples is
A) whether the dogs are tested indoors or outdoors.
B) that some samples should come from people and some from horses.
C) that the urine samples should come from a diverse group of patients.
D) whether, during testing, the dogs can see people who know which samples came from cancer patients.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The Clever Hans investigation showed that animals can inadvertently pick up subtle cues from their handlers. Therefore, it is important to ensure that the dogs cannot see people who know which samples came from cancer patients to avoid any potential cueing that may influence their performance. Controlling the location of the test (indoor vs. outdoor) or the type of samples (from people or horses) may not have a direct impact on the dog's ability to sniff out cancer. However, the diversity of urine samples from cancer patients should also be considered to make sure the dogs are not just memorizing the scent of a particular patient's urine.

Based on Investigations with the Horse Clever Hans,an Important Factor