Which research design is considered the "gold standard" in efficacy research?
A) Clinical case study
B) Randomized-trial experiment
C) Clinical correlational study
D) Quasi-experiment with placebo control

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Randomized-trial experiment is considered the "gold standard" in efficacy research because it allows researchers to control for extraneous variables and isolate the effects of the treatment being tested. This involves randomly assigning participants to either a treatment group or control group, where the treatment group receives the intervention being tested and the control group receives a placebo or no treatment. This design allows for a comparison between the two groups and helps determine whether the treatment is the cause of any observed changes in the participants' behavior or symptoms.

Which Research Design Is Considered the "Gold Standard" in Efficacy