Question

A lab is conducting a test to see if people prefer cookie A or cookie B. The steps in the test are outlined below: Step 1. Recruit one hundred volunteers and tell them that cookie A is preferred by most. Step 2. Give them cookie A and ask them to rate the flavor. Step 3. Give them cookie B and ask them to rate the flavor. Step 4. Reveal which cookie they preferred. Which step could lead to biased results?

Answer 1

Biased results are are results that are influenced by preconceived ideas or opinions.

So the step that would lead to biased results is Step 1. This is because the volunteers are being told which cookie is preferred before the test begins. The fact that they are told which cookie is preferred (regardless of the truth of this assertion) will influence their future decisions when tasting the cookies. Therefore this is an example of bias.

Answer 2

The answer would be: step 1

In step one, the recruiter is telling them that cookie A is preferred by most. This opinion can cause biased result because the subject opinion will tend to support the claim of the recruiter. The recruiter should not say anything to support either cookie and try to be as neutral as possible.