Final answer:
The best approach to control for researcher bias is to ensure both the participant and the researcher are unaware of the study's expectations. Having colleagues periodically run each other's experiments to check for biases can also be a good approach. Using deception with research participants is not ethical.The correct option is a.
Step-by-step explanation:
The best approach to control for researcher bias is to ensure both the participant and the researcher are unaware of the study's expectations. This is known as double-blind methodology, where neither the researcher nor the participant knows the hypothesized outcome of the study. This eliminates the possibility of biased behavior or expectations influencing the results.
Having colleagues periodically run each other's experiments to check for biases can also be a good approach. This is known as inter-rater reliability, where different researchers independently analyze the same data to assess the consistency of results. It helps in minimizing individual biases.
Using deception with all research participants, as mentioned in option c, is not considered ethical and can undermine the integrity of the study. The Hawthorne effect, mentioned in option d, refers specifically to the phenomenon of individuals modifying their behavior due to being observed, and it is not a method to control for researcher bias.