Demand Characteristics
Updated 2026-08-08
INTRODUCTION
English translation pending.
CORE DEFINITION
Described by Martin Orne, demand characteristics are the features of an experimental setting that communicate what the researcher expects, prompting participants to act as good subjects by confirming the hypothesis. The effect threatens validity because the observed behavior reflects the participant's inference about the study rather than the manipulated variable. The same dynamic appears outside the laboratory whenever people respond to what they believe the questioner wants to hear.
SCAFFOLDING EFFECT
Reduce cognitive load
- Hide the intent: design questions and tasks that do not reveal the answer you expect. - Watch behavior: observe what people do rather than what they say under observation. - Check the setup: ask what a participant would guess the study is actually testing.
Anchor fast decisions
Participants interpret the whole situation, including instructions, tone and the presence of the researcher, and form a hypothesis about its purpose. Acting on that hypothesis is a cooperative move, so their behavior shifts toward the expected result. The observed data then reflect compliance with the perceived demand rather than the effect under study.
MINIMUM ACTION
In progress 0/1Practice this model in one real situation:
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Source support: Explicit
- en.wikipedia.orghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demand_characteristicsverified
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