experimenter effects | Definition

Course: Research Methods

Experimenter effects refer to the influence a researcher may unintentionally have on the results of a study.

Exploring Experimenter Effects

In any research, the goal is to learn something new about the world. To do this, researchers carefully plan and conduct studies. But, no matter how careful they are, they’re still human. This means they might unknowingly influence the results of a study. We call this an “experimenter effect”.

Experimenter effects can come in many forms. Maybe the researcher has a certain expectation and acts in a way that encourages participants to behave accordingly. Or perhaps their own beliefs or behaviors influence how they interpret the data. In any case, these effects can skew the results.

Why Experimenter Effects Matter

Above all, experimenter effects are a threat to a study’s external validity. External validity is the degree to which the results of a study can be generalized to other situations or people. If the results are influenced by the experimenter, then they might not apply to other settings or groups.

Experimenter effects can make it seem like a study’s findings are due to the factors being studied, when they’re really due to the researcher’s influence. This can lead to false conclusions.

Example in Criminal Justice

In criminal justice research, a study might be conducted to assess the effectiveness of a new rehabilitation program. If the researcher believes strongly in the program and communicates this to participants, it could influence their behavior. They might work harder to succeed in the program because they feel the researcher expects it. This is an experimenter effect.

Social Work Scenario

In social work, a researcher studying the impact of therapeutic interventions on mental health outcomes might unconsciously give more positive feedback to participants in a particular group. This could lead the participants to feel more confident and report better outcomes, not because of the intervention, but because of the researcher’s influence.

Political Science Context

In political science, a researcher might be conducting a survey on voter attitudes. If they inadvertently phrase questions in a way that reflects their own political biases, this could influence the responses. Participants might answer in a way they think the researcher wants, rather than giving their true opinion.

Summing It Up

All in all, experimenter effects are a serious concern in research. They can skew results and threaten external validity. By being aware of these effects and taking steps to minimize them, researchers in fields like criminal justice, social work, and political science can conduct more accurate and reliable studies.

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Last Modified: 06/24/2023

 

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