Phil is a participant in a study designed to examine the effects of taking a dietary supplement on muscle tissue development.Phil suspects he is in the experimental group,because he is certain his muscles are bigger and stronger as a result of taking the product supplied by the researchers.When the study is completed,Phil learns that he did not receive the dietary supplement.Phil thinks the researchers made a mistake-he is certain his muscle mass increased while he took the supplement.According to this information,Phil's belief that his physical condition improved while he participated in the study is an example of
A)participant fatigue.
B)human subject bias.
C)the placebo effect.
D)an anecdotal report.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Phil's belief that he experienced an improvement in his physical condition is a classic example of the placebo effect, which occurs when a participant believes they are receiving a beneficial treatment and experiences an improvement in their symptoms, even if they are receiving a placebo or a treatment that has no active ingredients. In this case, Phil's belief that he was receiving the dietary supplement led him to perceive an improvement in his muscle development, even though he was not actually receiving the supplement.

Phil Is a Participant in a Study Designed to Examine