What is experimental realism focused on?

Experimental realism is primarily concerned with the psychological aspects of the research situation. This concept emphasizes the extent to which a study engages participants in a way that they respond to the experimental situation genuinely or authentically. When experimental realism is strong, individuals feel immersed in the scenario, which enhances the validity of their responses and behaviors. This immersion allows researchers to observe genuine reactions, making the findings more meaningful in terms of understanding psychological phenomena.

In contrast, while physical characteristics of the environment and data collection procedures are important to the overall design and execution of an experiment, they are not the primary focus of experimental realism. Similarly, while participants’ perceptions can influence their engagement, the central idea of experimental realism hinges on creating a psychologically compelling situation that encourages authentic participant behavior, aligning closely with the broader definition of psychological engagement in a research context.