Dr. Wilkins randomly assigns subjects to one of two groups. He is interested in the effects of caffeine on anxiety levels. He gives subjects in the first group an extra two cups of coffee a day for six months. The second group receives an extra two cups of decaffeinated coffee a day for the same time period. Importantly, subjects do not know whether they are being given regular or decaffeinated coffee. By providing one group with decaffeinated coffee, Dr. Wilkins is trying to account for which potential element of the experiment?
A) participant fraud
B) inter-rater reliability
C) the placebo effect
D) variability

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

By providing the second group with decaffeinated coffee, Dr. Wilkins is attempting to rule out the placebo effect, where individuals may experience reduced anxiety simply because they believe they are receiving caffeine, rather than from the actual effects of caffeine itself.

Dr Wilkins Randomly Assigns Subjects to One of Two Groups