Any aspects of a study that communicate to the participants how the experimenter wants them to behave are known as?

• A. Demand characteristics
• B. Observer bias
• C. Placebo effect
• D. Social desirability bias

Answer: (A)

Demand characteristics are cues in a study that signal to participants how the experimenter wants them to behave. These can be explicit instructions, the researcher’s tone or reactions, the setting, or even subtle timing and body language. When participants pick up on these cues, they may adjust their behavior to fit what they think the study expects, which can bias the results and threaten the study’s internal validity. Observing bias involves the researcher’s expectations shaping what is recorded, not the participants’ behavior; the placebo effect arises from participants’ beliefs about receiving treatment rather than cues about how to act in the study; and social desirability bias is about participants aiming to present themselves favorably, a response style rather than cues from the experimenter about the desired behavior.