AP PSYCH 1.4 Selecting a Research Method
- All research has the potential for flaws and bias
- These are a few of the most notable obstacles to research
Confounding Variables
- Factors that interfere or influence a study that were not intended or expected
Placebo Effect
- An expectation that a substance or an action given during an experiment has a real effect
Participant Bias
- Conscious or unconscious behavior that will ensure a research outcome fits a participant’s expectations or what they perceive the researcher to want
- This can be fixed by conducting a single-blind procedure
- In which the subjects don’t know which of them has received the treatment, who has received placebo, and who is control
Experimental/Researcher Bias
- Consciously or unconsciously conducting research to ensure the outcome fits the researcher’s expectations
- This can be avoided by conducting a double-blind procedure
- In which neither the research or participant know who has received treatment/placebo/control