What is an example of an influence that can skew study results due to observation?

An example of an influence that can skew study results due to observation is competition among participants. When participants in a study are aware of each other and may feel competitive, their behavior can change in ways that might not accurately reflect their true response or performance. This peer influence can lead to heightened motivation, anxiety, or performance that is not representative of what might occur in a more neutral or independent setting.

Competition can result in exaggerated or altered outcomes as participants push themselves to outperform one another, which can distort the data collected by the researchers. Therefore, the effects of competition introduce a confounding variable that leads to potential bias in interpreting the results of the study.

In contrast, factors like selection bias, random sampling, or retention of participants are related to how participants are chosen, included, or maintained in a study, rather than their behavior during the observation itself. These factors influence the integrity and applicability of the study's design but do not stem from the dynamics of participant behavior during the observation period.