Two Groups of Graduate Students Were Given Rats and Instructed

question 366

Multiple Choice

Two groups of graduate students were given rats and instructed to teach the rats how to run mazes. Group 1 was told that they had "very smart" rats that should learn quickly. Group 2 was told that they had "very stupid" rats that should learn slowly. In actuality, neither group was any different, and the rats were randomly assigned. In spite of that, when the experiment concluded, the rats taught by Group 1 had learned the maze much more quickly. How can that be explained?

• A) experimenter effect
• B) placebo effect
• C) subject bias
• D) treatment effect

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Definitions:

Ethical Principle

A fundamental guideline or rule that helps determine the rightness or wrongness of actions within a moral framework.

Beneficence

The ethical principle that entails acting with the best interest in mind to promote the well-being of others.

Minor Child

A child who is legally underage and not considered capable of taking certain legal responsibilities.

Research Study

A systematic investigation designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge through data collection, analysis, and interpretation.