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Bakker, Marjan

Expectancy effects on the analysis of behavioral research data

Marjan Bakker (PhD student)
Psychological Methodology
Department of Psychology
FMG, University of Amsterdam
Roetersstraat 15, 1018 WB Amsterdam
Phone: +31 20 525 6763 / 6870 (secretary)
E-mail: Marjan Bakker

Project: Project financed by NWO
Project running from: 1 April 2009 – 1 April 2013

Supervisors:

- prof. dr H.L.J. Van der Maas (University of Amsterdam)
- dr J.M. Wicherts (University of Amsterdam)

Summary of project

Behavioral researchers normally try to avoid expectancy effects during data collection, but they perform the statistical analysis of their study themselves. In this project we study whether researchers’ expectations can bias their statistical results. We propose that researchers may suffer from confirmation bias which may result in a failure to notice statistical errors that are in line with their hypotheses. Moreover, we hypothesize that researchers may resort to alternative analyses when the planned analysis fails to support their hypothesis. Expectancy effects on statistical outcomes will be studied by means of re-analyses and by employing correlational, experimental, and meta-analytical methods.

Date of defence:
Title of thesis: