#1594: Human Subjects explain

[Ponytail and Megan sit at a desk.]

Ponytail: We’re concerned that some of your results may be tainted by the fact that your human subjects are awful.

Megan: What do you mean?

[Ponytail picks up a sheet of paper.]

Ponytail: Several participants in your drug trial were arrested for arson.

Megan: Side effects can be unpredictable.

Ponytail: They were in the control group.

[Zoom in on Ponytail.]

Ponytail: In your prisoner’s dilemma study, 80% of the participants chose to betray their partners before the experimenter had a chance to tell them about the reward.

Megan (off-panel): Definitely troubling.

[Ponytail shows Megan another sheet of paper.]

Ponytail: In one experiment, your subjects repeatedly gave electric shocks to a stranger in another room.

Megan: That’s a famous psychological-

Ponytail: This was a study of moisturizing creams!

Megan: Yes, we’re not sure how they snuck in all that equipment.