Research Procedures » Instructions to Participants

What you'll learn this session

Study time: 30 minutes

What instructions to participants are and why they matter in psychological research
The ethical requirements for participant instructions
How to create effective instructions for different research methods
The impact of instructions on research validity
Real examples of good and bad participant instructions

Introduction to Instructions to Participants

When psychologists conduct research, they need to tell participants what to do. These explanations are called "instructions to participants" and they're a crucial part of any psychological study. Good instructions help make sure everyone in the study understands what they need to do, which helps researchers collect reliable data.

Key Definitions:

Instructions to participants: Clear directions given to people taking part in psychological research that explain what they need to do during the study.
Standardised instructions: Instructions that are exactly the same for all participants to ensure everyone receives the same information.
Informed consent: When participants agree to take part in research after being fully informed about what will happen.

💬 Why Instructions Matter

Good instructions help make sure that any differences in how participants behave are due to what the researcher is testing, not because people misunderstood what they were supposed to do. Clear instructions are essential for:

Ensuring all participants complete the task correctly
Reducing confusion that could affect results
Making the research more reliable and valid
Meeting ethical standards by properly informing participants

⚠ Poor Instructions Can Lead To

When instructions aren't clear enough, several problems can arise:

Participants might do the task differently from each other
Results could be affected by confusion rather than the variables being studied
The study might not be replicable by other researchers
Ethical issues if participants don't fully understand what they're agreeing to

Ethical Requirements for Instructions

Instructions to participants aren't just practical they're also an ethical requirement. The British Psychological Society (BPS) has clear guidelines about what information participants should receive before taking part in research.

📝 Before the Study

Instructions should include:

The purpose of the research
What participants will be asked to do
How long it will take
Any potential risks or discomfort
Right to withdraw at any time

🛠 During the Study

Instructions should:

Be clear and easy to understand
Avoid technical jargon
Be standardised for all participants
Explain each step of the procedure
Allow for questions

🔒 After the Study

Participants should be told:

The full aims of the research
Any deception that was used
How their data will be used
Contact details for further questions
How to access study results

Creating Effective Instructions

Different research methods require different types of instructions. The way you explain a task to participants needs to match the method you're using.

Instructions for Different Research Methods

🔬 Laboratory Experiments

Lab experiments need very precise instructions because they aim to control all variables. Instructions should:

Be highly detailed and specific
Explain exactly what participants need to do at each step
Be read from a script to ensure standardisation
Include practice trials if the task is complex

Example: "You will see a series of words appear on the screen. Press the red button if the word is an animal and the blue button if it is not. You will have 2 seconds to respond to each word."

📄 Questionnaires and Surveys

Instructions for questionnaires need to explain how to complete the form correctly:

How to mark responses (tick boxes, circle numbers, etc.)
Whether to choose one or multiple answers
How to interpret rating scales
What to do with completed forms

Example: "Please rate how much you agree with each statement on a scale of 1-5, where 1 means 'strongly disagree' and 5 means 'strongly agree'. Circle only one number for each statement."

👥 Observations

For observations, instructions might be minimal to avoid changing natural behaviour:

Explain that they'll be observed (for ethical reasons)
Keep details vague if specific knowledge might change behaviour
For structured observations, explain any tasks clearly

Example: "We're studying how people interact in group settings. Please complete this puzzle together as a group. Take as long as you need."

🗣 Interviews

Interview instructions should set expectations and create comfort:

Explain the interview format (structured, semi-structured, etc.)
Clarify that there are no right or wrong answers
Explain recording methods and confidentiality
Set time expectations

Example: "I'll be asking you about your experiences at school. The interview will last about 30 minutes. Feel free to share as much or as little as you're comfortable with. I'll be recording our conversation, but your name won't be used in any reports."

Case Study Focus: Milgram's Obedience Study

Stanley Milgram's famous obedience study shows how important instructions are in psychological research. Participants were told they were taking part in a study on learning and memory. They were instructed to give electric shocks to another person (actually an actor) when they gave wrong answers.

The instructions were deliberately authoritative: "The experiment requires that you continue" and "You have no other choice, you must go on." These powerful instructions led many participants to deliver what they thought were dangerous shocks.

This study demonstrates how the wording of instructions can dramatically influence participant behaviour. Today, such misleading instructions would be considered unethical without careful safeguards and thorough debriefing.

How Instructions Affect Research Validity

✅ Improving Validity

Well-designed instructions can improve research validity by:

Reducing demand characteristics: When participants guess what the study is about and change their behaviour
Ensuring standardisation: Everyone gets the same experience
Minimising experimenter bias: Using scripted instructions reduces the researcher's influence
Enabling replication: Other researchers can repeat the study exactly

❌ Threats to Validity

Poor instructions can threaten validity through:

Confusion: Participants might complete tasks incorrectly
Inconsistency: Different explanations for different participants
Leading language: Words that hint at "correct" responses
Complexity: Instructions that are too technical or complicated

Best Practices for Instructions

To create effective instructions for participants, follow these guidelines:

Use simple language: Avoid jargon and technical terms
Be concise: Keep instructions as brief as possible while including all necessary information
Check understanding: Ask participants if they have questions before starting
Provide examples: Demonstrate what you want participants to do
Use visual aids: Diagrams or demonstrations can help clarify complex tasks
Pilot test: Try your instructions with a small group first to identify any confusion
Write a script: Prepare exact wording to ensure all participants receive identical instructions
Consider accessibility: Adapt instructions for participants with different needs

Real Example: Instructions in a Memory Experiment

Poor instructions: "Remember the words."

Better instructions: "You will see 20 words appear on the screen, one at a time. Each word will be shown for 3 seconds. Please try to remember as many words as you can. After all words have been shown, you'll have 2 minutes to write down all the words you can remember on the sheet provided. The order doesn't matter."

The second example clearly explains what participants will see, how long they'll see it, exactly what they need to do and how they should record their answers. This reduces confusion and ensures everyone completes the task in the same way.

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