<p>This is called "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demand_characteristics" rel="nofollow noreferrer">demand characteristics</a>":</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>... an experimental artifact where participants form an interpretation
  of the experiment's purpose and unconsciously change their behavior to
  fit that interpretation.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>An example is:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>The good-participant role in which the participant attempts to discern
  the experimenter's hypotheses and to confirm them. The participant
  does not want to "ruin" the experiment.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Demand characteristics are a type of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Response_bias" rel="nofollow noreferrer">response bias</a>:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>... a general term for a wide range of cognitive biases that influence
  the responses of participants away from an accurate or truthful
  response. These biases are most prevalent in the types of studies and
  research that involve participant self-report, such as structured
  interviews or surveys.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Another related type of response bias is the "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_desirability_bias" rel="nofollow noreferrer">social desirability bias</a>":</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>... the tendency of survey respondents to answer questions in a manner
  that will be viewed favorably by others.</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-29T09:28:18.907Z
Exactly what I was looking for, thx
Morgan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-29T07:42:29.350Z
2017-11-29T07:42:29.350Z
Arnon Weinberg
<p>I'm looking for research I've read about a well known effect that happens when participants complete a survey, where they do not answer what they think is right, but what they think the researchers are expecting from them.
It can be a survey but it can also be something else...</p>

<social-psychology><measurement><bias><survey>
Name of false answer effect in surveys
Morgan
# Name of false answer effect in surveys

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-11-29)

I'm looking for research I've read about a well known effect that happens when participants complete a survey, where they do not answer what they think is right, but what they think the researchers are expecting from them.
It can be a survey but it can also be something else...

**Tags:** social-psychology, measurement, bias, survey


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2017-11-29. Score: 4 | Accepted answer

This is called "[demand characteristics](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demand_characteristics)":

> ... an experimental artifact where participants form an interpretation
> of the experiment's purpose and unconsciously change their behavior to
> fit that interpretation.

An example is:

> The good-participant role in which the participant attempts to discern
> the experimenter's hypotheses and to confirm them. The participant
> does not want to "ruin" the experiment.

Demand characteristics are a type of [response bias](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Response_bias):

> ... a general term for a wide range of cognitive biases that influence
> the responses of participants away from an accurate or truthful
> response. These biases are most prevalent in the types of studies and
> research that involve participant self-report, such as structured
> interviews or surveys.

Another related type of response bias is the "[social desirability bias](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_desirability_bias)":

> ... the tendency of survey respondents to answer questions in a manner
> that will be viewed favorably by others.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Exactly what I was looking for, thx  

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