AP PSYCHOLOGY

RESEARCH METHODS THINKING CRITICALLY WITH PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE

THE NEED FOR PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE

Question [CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
In a study of pain medications, injections of a saline solution (which contains no chemicals) were shown to be quite effective for relieving pain. This is an example of
A
the experimenter effect
B
the placebo effect
C
an order effect
D
use of non-standardised instructions and procedures
Explanation: 

Detailed explanation-1: -The placebo effect is a phenomenon in which some people experience a benefit after the administration of an inactive lookalike substance or treatment. This substance, or placebo, has no known medical effect and can be in the form of a pill (sugar pill), injection (saline solution), or consumable liquid.

Detailed explanation-2: -Placebo effect examples After participants take the pill, their blood pressure and pulse rate increases, and their reaction speeds are improved. However, when the same people are given the same pill and told it will help them relax and sleep, they report experiencing relaxation instead.

Detailed explanation-3: -A placebo can be a sugar pill, a water or salt water (saline) injection or even a fake surgical procedure. The placebo effect is triggered by the person’s belief in the benefit from the treatment and their expectation of feeling better, rather than the characteristics of the placebo.

Detailed explanation-4: -By definition, the placebo effect is something real that happens in a patient’s brain, whereas the placebo response is what clinical trials actually measure when comparing placebo groups to active groups.

Detailed explanation-5: -A placebo is an inactive substance that looks like the drug or treatment being tested. Comparing results from the two groups suggests whether changes in the test group result from the treatment or occur by chance.

There is 1 question to complete.