Date of Award

5-1972

Degree Type

Master's Essay - Restricted

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Mary Anne Siderits

Second Advisor

Roman S. Gawkoski

Third Advisor

Frances M. Douglass

Abstract

The influences that the experimenter has on the subject in an experimental situation are many. The use of any testing technique must be viewed in the light of these effects. The interpersonal relationship of the tester and the testee prior to testing and the relationship in the testing situation are factors which influence the results obtained. Intelligence scores may be significantly affected by these factors. All behavioral scientists either intentionally or unintentionally do many things which influence the responses of their subjects. Rosenthal (1968) has distinguished five categories of interactional effects between the experimenter and his subjects. They are biosocial, psychosocial, situational, modeling and expectancy effects. The age and sex of the experimenter as they influence testing results have been investigated by several psychologists (Sarason & Minard, 1963: Schachtel, 1966). Personality traits of experimenters such as anxiety, need for approval, hostility, authoritarianism and warmth have also been assessed for influences on test results (Luft, 1951; Lord, 1950; Wickes, 1956). Rosenthal (1966) also cites differences in results as being obtained by experienced vs. less experienced investigators. He discusses the process of the experiment as having an influence on the experimenter's behavior and learning to change in the subject's responses. Thus, the experimenter may influence subjects to respond in such a way that his hypothesis is supported.

Comments

A Thesis submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate School, Marquette University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

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