Question

A new cream was developed to reduce the irritation

caused by poison ivy. To test the effectiveness,
researchers placed an ad online asking for volunteers
to participate in the study. One hundred subjects
replied, and they were informed that one group would
receive the new cream and the other group would
receive a cream with no active ingredient. All 100
subjects were exposed to poison ivy. Fifty were then
assigned to the group with the new cream, and 50
were assigned to the group with the cream with no
active ingredient.
Which of the following is a benefit of having replication
in the experiment?
Repeating the experiment will allow the researchers
to compare the differences between the subjects that
received the new cream both times.
O Having a large number of subjects receiving the
treatments will allow for a good comparison of the
differences in level of irritation between the two
groups.
O Having a large number of subjects receiving the
treatments will not allow for a good comparison of
the differences in level of irritation between the two
groups.
Replication is not needed in this experiment. One
subject for each type of treatment is enough to
determine if the reduction in level of irritation is due
to the new cream.

Answer 1

Having a large number of subjects allows for a better comparison of treatments in an experiment, ensuring that results are reliable and not due to chance or bias, and replication strengthens the evidence and supports broader scientific consensus.

Step-by-step explanation:

The benefit of replication in the experiment is that having a large number of subjects receiving the treatments allows for a good comparison of the differences in level of irritation between the two groups. Replication ensures that the results are not due to chance and increases the reliability of the findings. It is essential to replicate the experimental conditions to verify that the observed effects are truly due to the treatment being tested. Moreover, it helps to eliminate or reduce the impact of bias that may arise from factors other than those being studied. In the case of a placebo-controlled study, replication also strengthens the evidence that the response is due to the active ingredient in the new cream and not other variables.

Independent and dependent variables are crucial components of research experiments. Replication contributes to the accuracy and validity of the results, helping to confirm or refute the original study's findings. Additionally, replication by other researchers can either support or challenge the study's conclusions, thus contributing to the broader scientific understanding of the treatment's effectiveness.

Proper experimental design includes random assignment, a control group receiving a placebo treatment, and blinding to prevent expectancy bias. The successful use of these elements provides more confidence in the deduction that the cream truly reduces the irritation caused by poison ivy, assuming the study's findings are positive and replicated.