Explain the function of a placebo control condition and blinded assessment in clinical research
What will be an ideal response?
A drug may seem to have an effect because of participants’ expectations that it will have an effect. Placebo control conditions control for this expectation effect. Blinded assessment refers to patients and researchers (or anyone rating outcomes) being blind as to the condition to which the participant was assigned. This further controls for expectations and biases on the part of the researcher.
You might also like to view...
Which of the following core dysfunctional beliefs might explain the development of histrionic personality disorder?
A. "I need a man to define me." B. "I am the only one I can trust." C. "I am completely helpless." D. "If I am not fun, they will abandon me."
The fact that researchers must wait many years for their subjects to grow older, and that subjects may drop out of the study for a variety of reasons, are disadvantages of:
A. cross-sectional designs B. amniocentesis C. longitudinal methods D. the nature-nurture question
Regarding therapy and the therapist, which of the following statements is TRUE?
a. Successful therapists are willing to use whatever method seems helpful to the client. b. Client must develop a dependence on the therapist for the therapy to be successful. c. Effective therapists often talk about their own problems to build rapport with their clients. d. Even if you lose confidence in the therapist or don't relate well to the therapist as a person, it is important not to change therapists or terminate the therapy.
When people are distracted, they are more likely to fall prey to the fundamental attribution error. This occurs because internal attributions arise from ________, whereas external attributions arise from ________
a. automatic processes; controlled processes b. controlled processes; automatic processes c. automatic processes; spontaneous processes d. effortful processes; spontaneous processes