The use of a control group that waits for treatment is essentially an effort by a researcher to:
A) control for spontaneous remission or participants improving on their own over time.
B) control the unwanted effects of a drug treatment, such as side effects.
C) prevent research participants from showing a negative reaction to a treatment that is actually ineffective.
D) control for the expectation that a treatment procedure will cause some improvement.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The use of a control group that waits for treatment is essentially an effort by a researcher to control for spontaneous remission or participants improving on their own over time. By having a control group that does not receive the treatment at the same time as the treatment group, researchers can compare the natural course of the condition in both groups and determine if the treatment had a significant effect beyond what would be expected as part of the natural course of the condition. This helps to rule out the possibility that any observed improvement in the treatment group is due to factors other than the treatment itself.

The Use of a Control Group That Waits for Treatment