A researcher is studying the effectiveness of a new serotonin reuptake inhibitor for the treatment of depression.She divides the patients with depression in half.Group X is given the new drug and Group Y does not receive any thing.At 2,6,and 10 weeks,she assesses both groups for depressive symptoms.What is wrong with this study?
A) The researcher did not include an experimental group.
B) The researcher did not include a control group.
C) The researcher did not include a placebo group.
D) The study will be invalid because of experimenter bias.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The study lacks a placebo group which is essential in a drug trial. The use of a placebo group is important to distinguish the effects of taking an active drug from the effects of merely expecting to get better. Without a placebo group, it is difficult to know whether the improvement observed in the X group is due to the drug or simply the placebo effect.

A Researcher Is Studying the Effectiveness of a New Serotonin