Based on this research design, explain how comparing the new intervention directly to standard exposure therapy manages participant expectations to control for the placebo effect, and describe the clinical question this design answers compared to a design using a standard control condition.
Case context: A clinical psychologist is evaluating a new intervention for simple phobia. Rather than comparing the new intervention to a standard no-treatment control condition, she designs a study where it is compared directly against standard exposure therapy, which is the current best available alternative treatment for simple phobia.
Question: Based on this research design, explain how comparing the new intervention directly to standard exposure therapy manages participant expectations to control for the placebo effect, and describe the clinical question this design answers compared to a design using a standard control condition.
Sample answer: Comparing the new intervention directly to standard exposure therapy ensures that participants in both conditions receive an active treatment. Because both groups receive treatment, their expectations for improvement remain similar, successfully controlling for the placebo effect. This design answers the practical question of whether the new intervention performs better than the current clinical standard (standard exposure therapy), rather than just answering if the new intervention works better than no treatment.
Key points:
- Both groups receive active treatments (the new intervention and standard exposure therapy).
- Participant expectations of improvement are similar in both groups, controlling for placebo effects.
- The design addresses whether the new treatment outperforms the existing clinical standard.
- The study goes beyond asking 'does it work?' to ask 'does it work better than what is already available?'
Rubric: To receive full credit, the student must explain that expectations are kept similar because both groups receive active treatments, controlling for placebo effects. They must also identify that the study answers whether the new treatment performs better than standard exposure therapy, rather than just whether it works compared to a standard control condition.
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Research Methods in Psychology - 4th American Edition @ KPU
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