Participants may be more motivated than others to perform in the study because they were from what type of group?

• A. A paid participant pool
• B. A volunteer participant panel
• C. A controlled sample group
• D. An experimental group

Answer: (B)

Participants from a volunteer participant panel are generally more motivated to engage in the study compared to those from other types of groups. This motivation stems from their self-selected involvement, indicating a genuine interest in the study's topic or purpose. Volunteers often participate out of curiosity, personal interest, or a desire to contribute to research, which can lead to more enthusiastic engagement during the study.

In contrast, a paid participant pool may motivate individuals through compensation, potentially leading to less intrinsic interest in the study itself. A controlled sample group typically refers to a section of the population that is subjected to specific conditions for comparison purposes and may not necessarily reflect intrinsic motivation. Lastly, an experimental group is simply a designation for those receiving a particular treatment or intervention in the study, without any implication of motivation levels. Hence, the unique intrinsic motivation observed in volunteers makes this choice particularly relevant to the context of participant engagement in the study.