observer bias
Researcher's unconscious influence
Observer bias is the tendency for a researcher's expectations or beliefs to influence what they perceive or record during observation.
A scientist expecting certain results may unconsciously notice confirming evidence while overlooking contradictions.
The bias can affect how data is collected, interpreted, or reported: The study's observer bias led researchers to rate the treatment group more favorably.
Double-blind experimental designs attempt to minimize this effect.
- confirmationEstablishing something as true
- cherry pickingUsing only favorable examples
- subjectiveBased on personal perspective
- expectationBelief about future outcomes
- perceptionMental interpretation of stimuli
blind · placebo · experimenter · skewed · distortion · prejudice · assumption · interpretation · selective · influence · researcher · research methods · data · measurement · unconscious · systematic · human error · watching
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