Final answer:
This college-level social studies question focuses on research design in a social context, where one target behavior is observed across multiple subjects within the same setting. It addresses the potential for observational effects and expectancy bias, as well as the need for controlled experimental conditions in behavioral research.
Step-by-step explanation:
The scenario presented revolves around a research design that involves the measurement of one target behavior for two or more subjects within the same setting. This design could be part of a broader study in areas such as psychology or sociology, wherein the observational effect (sometimes called the Hawthorne effect) and the concept of control versus experimental groups come into play. It posits that subjects may alter their behavior simply because they are aware of being observed. In experiments, this awareness can impact the results, which is why researchers often use methods such as blind or double-blind studies to mitigate these effects.
In a scenario provided as an example, where tutors want to study the effectiveness of tutoring strategies, students might be divided into a control group that receives no tutoring and an experimental group that does. By measuring the outcomes of both groups, researchers aim to observe differences attributable to the tutoring intervention. However, the research setting might be made somewhat artificial to protect students' academic records, a practice that can also cushion any expectancy bias.
Another example cites observational evaluation in a medical organization where the effectiveness of an educational curriculum was assessed across different settings. The observation noted variations in curriculum use, which underscores the importance of the context in behavioral studies. Finally, it's noted that behavioral interventions, such as operant conditioning, reinforce or punish a behavior to influence future occurrences, which can be a key factor in social research.