observer-expectancy effect

is a form of reactivity in which a researcher's cognitive bias causes them to subconsciously influence the participants of an experiment.

The observer-expectancy effect (also called the experimenter-expectancy effect, expectancy bias, observer effect, or experimenter effect) is a form of reactivity in which a researcher's cognitive bias causes them to subconsciously influence the participants of an experiment. Confirmation bias can lead to the experimenter interpreting results incorrectly because of the tendency to look for information that conforms to their hypothesis, and overlook information that argues against it. (wikipedia)

is the tendency of a researcher to expect a given result and therefore unconsciously manipulate an experiment or misinterpret data in order to find it.

Observer-expectancy effect: When a researcher expects a given result and therefore unconsciously manipulates an experiment or misinterprets data in order to find it (see also subject-expectancy effect).

observer expectancy effect, n.Definitions

observer expectancy effect