Demand characteristics in a field experiment

Abstract

Hypothesized that groups receiving a favorable leadership change would improve their performance while groups receiving negative leadership changes would deteriorate. Several foremen in a manufacturing organization were interchanged among groups through regular administrative channels, on short notice, and under deceptive conditions that hid the true purpose of the leadership changes. 10 wk. later a research team intervened to administer a questionnaire for assessment purposes. The contents of the questionnaire and the conditions under which it was administered clearly revealed the true purpose of the original foreman reassignments. The hypothesis, which was hidden during the "deception" period, was not supported until the workers learned the real reason for the experiment. They then supported the hypothesis, but only for 2 wk., indicating that the way in which the experimental variable is introduced in a study like this is a potentially critical matter. (14 ref.) (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)