The use of a placebo control is essentially an effort by a researcher to:
A) control for spontaneous remission.
B) control the unwanted effects of a drug treatment, such as side effects.
C) prevent research participants from showing a negative reaction to a treatment that is actually ineffective.
D) control for the expectation that a treatment procedure will cause some improvement.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The use of a placebo control helps to control for the expectation that a treatment procedure will cause some improvement, allowing researchers to determine whether the observed effect of a treatment is actually due to the treatment itself or simply due to the placebo effect. Control for spontaneous remission, unwanted effects of a drug treatment, and prevention of negative reactions to an ineffective treatment are other potential benefits of a placebo control, but the primary purpose is to control for the placebo effect.

The Use of a Placebo Control Is Essentially an Effort