A researcher is using the balanced placebo design to investigate the effects of alcohol on aggression. What has this research added to our knowledge of alcohol?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The balanced placebo design allows researchers to separate the effects of alcohol itself from the effects of participants' expectations about alcohol. By administering alcohol to some participants and a placebo to others, while also manipulating participants' beliefs about what they are consuming, researchers can determine whether the effects of alcohol are due solely to its chemical properties or whether expectations and other situational factors also play a role. This research has shown that expectations can significantly influence the effects attributed to alcohol, which has important implications for understanding how drinking behaviors develop and how interventions aimed at reducing alcohol-related harm might be designed. The other options are not supported by research on the balanced placebo design, and do not accurately describe what this approach has contributed to our understanding of alcohol.

A Researcher Is Using the Balanced Placebo Design to Investigate