When characteristics of a researcher—such as age, sex, or race—affect the…

Concept

Experimenter effects are changes in participants’ responses or study outcomes caused by characteristics or conduct of the researcher rather than by the intended independent variable.

A biosocial experimenter effect specifically arises from demographic or visible attributes of the researcher, such as age, sex, race, or physical appearance.

Application

The stem states that the researcher’s age, sex, or race changes participants’ behaviour. These are demographic attributes, so the described influence is a biosocial effect.

Contrast

• Biosocial effect: influence associated with the researcher’s demographic or visible attributes.

• Psychosocial effect: influence associated with characteristics such as warmth, hostility, anxiety, or need for approval.

• Hawthorne effect: change in behaviour associated with participants’ awareness that they are being observed or studied.

• Evaluation apprehension: concern about being judged, which can alter self-presentation or performance.

Result

Therefore, the effect described is the biosocial effect.