In a study of the effects of an antidepressant drug on depressive symptoms, the experimental group is given the antidepressant drug, while the control group is given a
A)placebo.
B)different but equally powerful anti-depressant drug.
C)lesser amount of the antidepressant drug.
D)mixture of a placebo and the antidepressant drug.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

In a controlled experiment, the control group is typically given a placebo, which is a substance with no therapeutic effect. This is done to compare the effects of the actual drug in the experimental group against a group that did not receive the therapeutic intervention, isolating the drug's effects from the placebo effect.

In a Study of the Effects of an Antidepressant Drug