The tendency of people being observed to act differently than normal as a…

Concept

In observational research, reactivity is a measurement effect in which awareness of being observed changes a participant’s ordinary behaviour.

The label is chosen by identifying whose behaviour changes and what causes the change: the participant changes because observation is known.

Application

Here, the people being studied alter their normal actions because they know they are being monitored. This is subject reactivity: the subject responds to the observation itself.

Contrast

• Subject reactivity concerns a change in the observed participant’s behaviour due to awareness of observation.

• Observer bias concerns the observer’s expectations influencing what is noticed, recorded, or interpreted.

• Observer drift concerns the observer’s coding criteria gradually changing over time.

• Debriefing is the post-study explanation of the research purpose, procedures, or deception to participants.

Result

Therefore, the described tendency is subject reactivity.