Experimenter Presence or Absence: An Experimental Analogue with Implications for Organizational Behavior Management |
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Authors: | Michael G Palmer C Merle Johnson Brian Davis |
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Institution: | 1. Central Michigan University, Department of Psychology, Mount Pleasant, Michigan, USAMichael.Palmer@unb.ca;3. Central Michigan University, Department of Psychology, Mount Pleasant, Michigan, USA |
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Abstract: | Students performed a simulated bank-proofing task individually in a lab with either the experimenter present or absent. Although run rates were similar, those in the Experimenter-Absent Group were off-task twice as much during sessions. Error frequencies for both groups were low and similar while rates of responding were significantly higher (+13%) in the Experimenter-Present Group because participants were off-task less often. Most human lab experiments fail to specify whether experimenters are present or absent in the room and this extraneous variable is a potential confound that should be controlled in future studies. |
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Keywords: | experimenter effects human lab research managerial presence off-task behavior social facilitation |
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