Use the Following to Answer Questions

Use the following to answer questions
Scenario I
Scenario I is based on and presents fabricated data consistent with the following study:
Merikle,P.M. ,& Skanes,H.E.(1992) .Subliminal self-help audiotapes: A search for placebo effects.Journal of Applied Psychology,77(5) ,772-776.doi:10.1037/0021-9010.77.5.772
Merikle and Skanes (1992) investigated the effectiveness of subliminal self-help audiotapes to promote weight loss in overweight females seeking to lose weight.Participants were randomly assigned to groups.Participants in two groups were instructed to listen to audiotapes containing subliminal messages associated with weight loss daily.Group 1 (the subliminal group) actually received these tapes.Group 2 (the placebo group) received tapes containing subliminal messages associated with relieving dental anxiety.Finally,a third group of participants was not given audiotapes and was told that they were on a waiting list to participate in the study.All participants-including the participants on the waiting list-were weighed weekly for 5 weeks.The average total weight loss (and standard deviations) for the three groups after the fifth week is presented in Figure 5.1.
Figure 5.1
-(Scenario I) Based on the entire data set shown in Figure 5.1,what is the MOST reasonable conclusion concerning the weight loss in the subliminal group?

A) The observed weight loss was entirely due to a placebo effect.
B) Placebo effects were minimal;but the observed weight loss was most likely due to participant motivation,rather than the effectiveness of the subliminal messages.
C) The observed weight loss was due to the subliminal messages interacting with heightened sensitivity to weight caused by the weekly weigh-ins.
D) The observed weight loss was due to a combined effect of the subliminal messages and placebo effects.