Researchers wanted to investigate whether coffee shop customers bring their own reusable cups or use single-use cups when ordering takeaway hot drinks. Previous survey data on eco-friendly consumer habits showed a discrepancy between self-reported behaviour and actual behaviour.
There were three options recorded for each customer order:
Instead of having an investigator stand clearly by the counter with a clipboard to note down choices, the researchers arranged for the barista to secretly log each customer's cup choice on a hidden tablet under the service counter.
Explain why having the barista record the choices covertly under the counter should reduce demand characteristics in this study.
689 exam-style questions on AQA A Level Psychology Scientific processes. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.