Question

Deception is one means experimenters can use to try to eliminate participant expectations. True or false?

Short answer

True, deception is a means used by experimenters to eliminate participant expectations.

Step-by-step solution

Understanding Deception in Experimental Design

In psychological research, 'deception' refers to a strategy where researchers withhold or distort information about the true nature of an experiment. It's often used to prevent participants from changing their behaviour based on their awareness of being observed or their knowledge of the experiment.

Significance of Participant Expectations

Participant expectations can influence the outcomes of an experiment. If participants have certain pre-existing beliefs or assumptions, they might consciously or unconsciously behave in ways that confirm these expectations, potentially skewing experiment results. This is known as demand characteristics.

Evaluating the Statement

Given the above explanations, 'deception' is one method that is often used by experimenters to overcome demand characteristics by reducing participant expectations. Thus, the statement is true.

Key concepts

Deception in Experiments

In experimental psychology, deception is a common technique researchers use to ensure the integrity of their studies. When participants know the true purpose of an experiment, they may try to act in a way that they believe fits with the experiment's goals. This can skew the results, making it hard to understand the natural behavior the study aims to observe.
Deception involves either withholding information or providing misleading information about the experiment’s aims. It helps in preserving the authenticity of results by preventing participants from altering their behavior in line with what they think the experiment is about.

• Withholding Information: Participants are not informed about the full nature or full purpose of the study.
• Providing Misleading Information: Giving participants false information about the goals or processes involved in the experiment.

Such approaches are controversial due to ethical concerns, but they are considered acceptable under strict ethical guidelines which require the deception to be absolutely necessary and subject to later debriefing of participants.

Participant Expectations

Participant expectations are the preconceived ideas that individuals bring into an experiment based on prior knowledge, experiences, or assumptions. These expectations can impact their behavior during the study, sometimes leading them to react in a way that supports their pre-existing beliefs.
If a participant expects a particular outcome or believes that a specific behavior is desired, they might intentionally or subconsciously behave in a way that aligns with those expectations. This can undermine the validity of the research findings. Such expectations can arise from many sources:

• Prior Experience: Past encounters and outcomes in similar settings.
• Instructions and Information Given: What they are told before or during the study can set specific expectations.
• Social and Cultural Background: Broad influences that shape how an individual anticipates situations and outcomes.

Managing these expectations is crucial for obtaining unbiased and reliable data.

Demand Characteristics

Demand characteristics are signals within an experiment that convey to participants how they are expected to behave. This can significantly affect the outcomes, as participants may try to conform to perceived expectations of the experimenter, rather than acting naturally.
These cues can come from a variety of sources:

• Experimental Setting: The environment in which the experiment takes place can influence how participants think they should act.
• Behavior of the Experimenter: Nonverbal signals from the person running the experiment might subconsciously guide participants' actions.
• Instructions Given: The way questions are framed or tasks are presented can imply expected behaviors or outcomes.

Controlling demand characteristics is crucial to avoid biases and achieve valid results. Researchers employ methods such as double-blind procedures, where both the participant and experimenter are unaware of key aspects of the experiment, to mitigate these effects.

Psychological Research Methods

Psychological research methods encompass a wide range of techniques used to investigate mental processes and behavior. These methods are designed to describe, explain, predict, and potentially control phenomena. The choice of method depends on the research question and context. Some common methods include:

• Experiments: Controlled environments where variables can be manipulated to test causal relationships.
• Surveys: Gathering data from large groups through questionnaires or interviews to understand trends and correlations.
• Case Studies: Detailed examination of a single individual, group, or event to explore phenomena in-depth.
• Observation: Recording behaviors in natural settings without interference, to see how subjects act in real-world scenarios.

Researchers select these methods based on the nature of their inquiry, balancing the need for control with ethical considerations related to the research.