Four roles that subjects may adopt

Question 1

Good

Answer 1

This refers to the attempt of subjects to provide responses in the experiment that will corroborate the investigator’s hypotheses. This role may reflect a subjects concern that his or her responses provide information that is useful to science. To adopt this role, the subject must identify the hypotheses and then act in a fashion that would be consistent with these hypotheses.

Question 2

Negativistic

Answer 2

This refers to the attempt to refute the investigators hypothesis.The negativistic subject is assumed to provide evidence for some alternative, perhaps opposing, hypothesis, or to provide information that will be of no use. This role may results from the subjects concern over being controlled, predictable or in a position where he or she is somehow forced to respond.

Question 3

Faithful subject

Answer 3

This refers to the attempt of subjects to follow carefully the experimental instructions and to avoid acting on the basis of any suspicions that they might have about the actual purpose of the investigation.This role may be performed passively if subjects apathetically follow the instructions of the experiment or actively if subjects are highly motivated to help science and take special care in not letting their suspicions or preconceptions enter into their responses.

Question 4

Apprehensive subject

Answer 4

This role is adopted when subjects are concerned that their performance will be used to evaluate their abilities, personal characteristics (e.g., adjustment), or opportunities (e.g., employment).Subjects often are motivated to present themselves favorably to psychologists, who presumably are regarded as experts in evaluating one’s psychological adjustment and other characteristics. When subjects respond in a social desirable fashion and hence place themselves in a desirable light, such responding may reflect the apprehensive subject role