Short Answer

If a researcher wants to apply the concept of reactivity to design a valid observational study in a bar, what condition must be met regarding the participants' awareness of being monitored, and why?

Question: If a researcher wants to apply the concept of reactivity to design a valid observational study in a bar, what condition must be met regarding the participants' awareness of being monitored, and why?

Sample answer: The participants must remain completely unaware that they are being monitored. This condition prevents them from altering their behavior (avoiding the Hawthorne effect) and ensures the collected data accurately represents their natural actions.

Key points:

  • Participants must be unaware that they are being monitored.
  • Unawareness prevents participants from acting differently than usual.
  • Avoiding this behavioral change preserves the validity of the observational study.

Rubric: The response should state that participants must not know they are being monitored. It must explain that keeping them unaware prevents behavioral changes (reactivity), thereby maintaining the validity of the observational study.

0

1

Updated 2026-05-27

Contributors are:

Who are from:

Tags

KPU

Research Methods in Psychology - 4th American Edition @ KPU

Related