What is a "placebo" in experimental research?
A)When an experimenter deceives subjects about the experiment’s true nature,then later tells them what it is really about
B)When subjects in a control group are treated the same as the subjects receiving the treatment
C)When subjects in the control group receive a false or empty treatment so they do not adjust their behaviour to confirm the experimenter’s hypothesis
D)When neither the subjects nor an assistant helping the experimenter know specifics about the treatment or how hypothesis is being tested
E)When an event outside the experiment’s control occurs during the experiment and affects the dependent variable

Question

What is a "placebo" in experimental research?
A)When an experimenter deceives subjects about the experiment&rsquo;s true nature,then later tells them what it is really about
B)When subjects in a control group are treated the same as the subjects receiving the treatment
C)When subjects in the control group receive a false or empty treatment so they do not adjust their behaviour to confirm the experimenter&rsquo;s hypothesis
D)When neither the subjects nor an assistant helping the experimenter know specifics about the treatment or how hypothesis is being tested
E)When an event outside the experiment&rsquo;s control occurs during the experiment and affects the dependent variable

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A placebo in experimental research is a false or empty treatment given to the control group so they do not change their behavior and confirm the experimenter's hypothesis. The purpose of a placebo is to isolate the effect of the treatment from other factors that may influence the outcome of the experiment. It is important for the control group to receive some sort of treatment so they do not feel neglected and drop out of the study, but the treatment must not have any substantive effect on their behavior or the outcome of the study.

What Is a "Placebo" in Experimental Research