Bias

Experimenter Bias

When the experimenter does something that makes participants behave differently

Different Types of Experimenter/ Researcher Bias

• Expectancy effects

• Observer Bias

• Recording Bias

• Demand Characteristics

Expectancy Effects

Researcher influences participants

Observer Bias

Researcher misinterprets behavior

Recording Bias

Researcher records data inaccurately

Demand Characteristics

participants figured out what the study is about and change their behavior because of it

Participants Bias

When participants have an expectation about how the study is going to go which influences how they act

Types of participants/subject bias

• Hawthorne effect

• Good subject

• Evaluation apprehension

Hawthorne effect

Participants behave differently simply because they know they are being studied

Good Subject

Participants push through task because they think that’s what reseacher wants

Evaluation Apprehension

Participants respond in ways that make them look good

Cohort

A group of people born around the same time who share similar cultural experiences

Cohort Effect (Cross-sectional Study)

Age differences confused with cultural differences

Example:

Older adults may struggle with technology because they grew up in a different tech environment