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 unconsciously 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. It is a significant threat to a study's
internal validity, and is therefore typically
controlled using a
double-blind experimental design.