Question

is typically present in systematic desensitization but typically absent from exposure therapy. treatment for depression. he carefully screens potential participants to make sure they fit strict diagnostic criteria and randomly assigns them to a treatment or control group. he is most likely conducting a(n) study.

Answer 1

In clinical trials, a control group receiving a placebo is used to account for the placebo effect, ensuring that any observed effects are due to the medication being tested. Blinding participants and researchers helps minimize bias.

Step-by-step explanation:

Placebo Effect and Control Groups in Clinical Trials

When conducting a clinical trial to test the effectiveness of a new medication for depression, researchers commonly use a control group to demonstrate what happens in the absence of the active treatment. This control group receives a placebo treatment, which looks exactly like the medication but has no therapeutic effect. The purpose of this approach is to mitigate the influence of the placebo effect, where participant expectations can lead to perceived or actual improvements in health. To ensure the results are attributed solely to the medication, and not to extraneous variables, blinding is employed. In double-blind studies, neither the participants nor the researchers know who is receiving the actual medication and who is receiving the placebo, further reducing bias.