Mark is a participant in a human intervention study that is testing the impact of selenium supplements on the performance of endurance athletes. Though Mark does not know if he is receiving selenium or an inactive sugar pill, he is sure that it is the tablet that he is taking that has helped him shave several minutes off his usual marathon time. What effect is Mark experiencing?
A)Thornburg
B)Placebo
C)Predisposition
D)Hawthorne

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Mark is experiencing the placebo effect, where the belief in the effectiveness of the treatment (in this case, the sugar pill/tablet) leads to an improvement in performance or symptoms. This is indicated by Mark's certainty that the tablet helped him improve his marathon time.

Mark Is a Participant in a Human Intervention Study That