What is a "placebo" in experimental research?
A) When an experimenter deceives subjects about the experiment's true nature, then later tells them what it is really about
B) When subjects in a control group are treated the same as the subjects receiving the treatment
C) When subjects in the control group receive a false or empty treatment so they do not adjust their behaviour to confirm the experimenter's hypothesis
D) When neither the subjects nor an assistant helping the experimenter know specifics about the treatment or how hypothesis is being tested
E) When an event outside the experiment's control occurs during the experiment and affects the dependent variable

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A placebo is a false or empty treatment given to subjects in the control group to prevent them from adjusting their behavior to confirm the experimenter's hypothesis. It is given to create a baseline for comparison with the treatment group, which receives the actual treatment. A placebo is usually a pill or other inactive substance that lacks any real pharmacological effects but looks and tastes like the medicine being studied. The use of a placebo is important to ensuring the validity and reliability of the results of clinical trials and experimental studies.

What Is a "Placebo" in Experimental Research