Demand Characteristics

• What do demand characteristics suggest in a study?

  Participants may change their natural behavior
• How might participants respond to demand characteristics?

  By trying to please the researcher
• What is the 'screw you' effect?

  Deliberately skewing results against expectations
• Why are repeated measures studies more likely to present demand characteristics?

  Participants know all conditions of the experiment
• Which study designs are at lower risk for demand characteristics?

  Independent groups and matched pairs designs
• Why are observational studies less likely to present demand characteristics?

  Participants may not know they are being studied
• What is the Hawthorne effect?

  Increased attention affects participant behavior
• How does evaluation apprehension distort results?

  Participants try harder due to being appraised
• What is needed to detect the Hawthorne effect?

  Information about similar activities without observation
• What is social desirability bias?

  Participants present themselves as socially acceptable
• How might social desirability bias affect data collection?

  Participants may lie to avoid bad impressions
• What might happen if participants are asked about stealing?

  They may lie to appear better
• What are the key concepts related to demand characteristics in research?

  • Demand characteristics: Participants change behavior
  • 'Screw you' effect: Deliberate skewing of results
  • Repeated measures: Higher risk of demand characteristics
  • Independent groups/matched pairs: Lower risk
  • Observational studies: Less likely to present demand characteristics
• What are the effects of the Hawthorne effect and social desirability bias?

  • Hawthorne effect: Attention alters behavior
  • Evaluation apprehension: Participants try harder
  • Social desirability bias: Participants present socially acceptable behavior
• How can researchers mitigate the effects of demand characteristics?

  • Use independent groups or matched pairs designs
  • Conduct observational studies without participant awareness
  • Ensure participants are unaware of study aims