A researcher asked students to teach a rat to learn a maze. Some students were told they had been given a genetically engineered intelligent rat, whereas others were told that they had a dull rat. Although there were no actual differences among the rats, the intelligent rats learned the maze more quickly than the dull rats. Which idea discussed in your book could best explain the results of this experiment?

Question

Social Studies

Forbes

8 January, 12:18

A researcher asked students to teach a rat to learn a maze. Some students were told they had been given a genetically engineered intelligent rat, whereas others were told that they had a dull rat. Although there were no actual differences among the rats, the intelligent rats learned the maze more quickly than the dull rats. Which idea discussed in your book could best explain the results of this experiment?

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Answers (1)

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Kaelyn Bush · Answer 1

Experimenter expectancy effect

Explanation:

The experimenter expectancy effect or observer expectancy effect postulates that when an experimenter is biased he can subconsciously influence the subjects in the experiment. Confirmation bias can now make the experimenter look for results that supports his bias.

This is evident in this instance where some students were given normal rats and told they were intelligent. The rats actually did better because the experimenters believed they were smarter than the other rats.