deception research

any study in which participants are deliberately misled or not informed about the purpose of the investigation in order to avoid the possibility that their responses may be given to meet the perceived expectations of researchers. For example, a social psychologist may use a deception experiment in which participants are randomly assigned to either of two scenarios that each describe job applicants in identical terms except that one is midleadingly said to be a male and the other is female. The researcher may then assess any gender bias in the participants by asking how likely the applicant is to be hired, instead of directly asking participants about their attitudes toward gender. See active deception; double deception; passive deception.

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Psychology term of the day

May 8th 2024

cooperative learning

1. learning in small groups, to which each student in the group is expected to contribute using interpersonal skills and face-to-face interaction. Students also participate in regular assessment of the group process.

2. a formal method of acquiring information that combines knowledge obtained in a classroom setting with that obtained in a work or applied setting. Typically, the formal classroom aspect of instruction is focused specifically on the actual work experience. See also cooperative training.