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Experimenter Bias

Definition

Experimenter bias refers to the possibility that a researcher's expectations might skew the results of an experiment.

Analogy

Imagine you're baking cookies and you expect them to be delicious because you've used your grandma's secret recipe. Because of this expectation, you might overlook any flaws in the cookies (like they're too hard or too sweet) and still consider them perfect. This is similar to experimenter bias, where a researcher's expectations can influence how they interpret their experimental results.

Theoretical Perspectives

Experimenter Bias

Study And Research Findings

Study and Research Findings

Related terms

Confirmation Bias: This is when people favor information that confirms their existing beliefs or hypotheses.

Observer-expectancy Effect: This occurs when a researcher's cognitive bias causes them to subconsciously influence the participants of an experiment.

Demand Characteristics: These are subtle cues that make participants aware of what the experimenter expects to find or how participants are expected to behave.