Demand characteristics in psychological experiments occur when subtle hints or clues influence a person’s behavior or response. This can lead to biased results and invalid experiments. Examples include visual manipulations, word usage, and emphasizing certain ideas. Biased results occur when people conform to a certain principle or idea, even if it gives them a more favorable self-image.
The characteristics of the question refer to behaviors that can sometimes be exhibited during psychological experiments. This occurs when a person involved in an experiment has been influenced in some way. The psychologist or person taking the test can provide subtle hints or clues about the outcome of the test and what to expect. Instead of giving an honest answer, the person being tested may edit some or all parts of the answer to conform to what the tester is looking for. Question characteristics can change behaviors to appear more socially or morally responsible.
There are many psychological examinations or tests that are performed for various reasons, but the results of these experiments can be a way to learn more about how people react to different situations. The result is not only based on the situation or experiment, but on what the person is told or sees during the test. A psychologist may unintentionally place an emphasis on an idea or make a statement that leads the person to conform to a certain idea. Visual manipulations can also be used to alter an opinion or interpretation. All these things are considered characteristics of the question and if any kind of experiment or evaluation is done under these circumstances, it is considered invalid.
A good example of the characteristics of demand can be seen in a study conducted on motion sickness. People were asked to fill out a questionnaire on the effects of movement and a percentage simply filled out the form. The remaining test subjects were placed in a visually stimulated movement environment. Not only have the questions been answered differently, but people who have been placed in the environment have also experienced motion sickness. Responses to the questionnaire varied greatly when other stimuli were introduced.
Word usage can also determine the characteristics of the question. A simple idea can be presented for interpretation, but adding a sentence or ending a question can result in a markedly different answer. For example, when a group of women were asked about menstruation they responded in a certain way. Another group of women were asked the same question, but were also asked about the symptoms that accompanied menstruation. These women had a much higher rate of complaints than the women in the first study.
When demand characteristics have negatively influenced a decision, it is considered biased. People may conform to a certain principle or idea if they are led to believe that there is only one viable solution. They conform even if it gives them a more favorable self-image.
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