Harley was participating in an experiment in which she was given a pill that was supposed to cause her to get drowsy. Five minutes after taking the pill, Harley reported that she felt drowsy and wanted to lie down. The pill was actually made of sugar and had no ingredients to cause drowsiness. How do you explain Harley's drowsy feeling?
A) experimenter effect
B) placebo effect
C) subject bias
D) treatment effect

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Harley felt drowsy because of the placebo effect, which occurs when a person's belief in a treatment or substance causes them to experience a physical or emotional response, even if the treatment or substance is not active or effective. In this case, Harley believed she had taken a pill that would cause drowsiness, so she experienced drowsiness.

Harley Was Participating in an Experiment in Which She Was