Question

chapter 02 quiz: the research enterprise in psychology
total points: --/20
attempts left: 3
which of the following study designs is most likely to suffer from reactivity?

• navigation behavior while driving a car in an unfamiliar city is observed. the data are collected by the researcher, who sits in the passenger seat next to the driver. the researcher does not speak and does not interfere in any way.
• reaction time and hand - eye coordination are assessed by recording performance on a tennis video game. the game is played online from the participants home. the data are collected automatically by the computer.
• the relationship between high school students socioeconomic status and their chosen electives is studied. the data are collected by researchers in person but is analyzed privately. it consists of academic records from past semesters.
• the hibernation behavior of grizzly bears is studied by placing small cameras in trees above their habitat and in the ceilings of their caves. the data is uploaded wirelessly to researchers in a nearby town.

Explanation:

Reactivity occurs when research participants alter their behavior because they know they are being observed. In the first option, the driver is aware a researcher is in the car with them, so they may change their navigation/driving behavior. The other options either use unobtrusive data collection (automatic computer recording, private record analysis, hidden cameras) that does not make participants aware of being observed in a way that would change their behavior.

Answer:

A. Navigation behavior while driving a car in an unfamiliar city is observed. The data are collected by the researcher, who sits in the passenger seat next to the driver. The researcher does not speak and does not interfere in any way.