Experimenter Influence

Experimenter influence refers to the ways a researcher’s expectations, beliefs, or behavior can unintentionally affect the outcome of a study. For example, if a researcher expects a certain result, they might unconsciously communicate that expectation through tone, body language, or subtle cues, which can influence participants’ responses. This can lead to biased results, making it seem like the findings are due to the variables being tested when they may partly reflect the experimenter's influence. To minimize this, researchers use double-blind procedures or standardized instructions to ensure the results are as objective as possible.