Does offering an individual an incentive to participate in a study introduce bias? Does it predispose a participant to tell me what they think I want to hear?

In almost every class I teach, someone raises this question.

The answer is no, not if I’ve done my job properly, which entails selecting the right people and screening out the people who don't fit the criteria.

Then, I set them up for success by creating a safe space, building a rapport with them, clearly explaining what they can expect, and letting them know that whatever we talk about today... there are no right or wrong answers.

We might be testing a hypothesis, a prototype or something else entirely, but we're never testing "them".

I often ask them specifically to talk out loud and to be candid, but I also tell them that no matter what they share, they are not going to hurt my feelings. I'm here to learn from them. The more candid they are, the easier my job will be. So I continue to develop that rapport by looking them in the eye, affirming what they say, using positive body language, digging deeper into their responses, and demonstrating my authentic curiosity about them and their opinions.

Thankfully, most of my conversations are successful & enjoyable!