Final answer:
The most appropriate response is that the research design ensured no differences between treatment groups, with both conditions experienced and randomly assigned. However, without specific results, we cannot conclusively determine which condition performed best.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the scenario described, concerning the tumor problem and different conditions under which subjects perform a task, we need to evaluate which condition led to the best performance. The options provided suggest that giving an analogy and telling the subject it will help, receiving an analogy but not being informed of its usefulness, or not providing any hints at all, may influence individual performance on the task.
Based on the information provided, option c would be the most appropriate response. This option indicates that the subjects experienced both treatments, and the order of treatments was randomly assigned. Therefore, there were no differences between the treatment groups due to any lurking variables, which implies that the research was well-designed to measure the actual effect of the treatments on performance. Random assignment is critical in research to eliminate bias and ensure the validity of the results.
However, the specific condition that performed best is not directly stated in the options provided. Therefore, we cannot definitively answer which condition was best without additional results or data from the study that directly addresses this question.