Asked by Parker Jackson on Apr 27, 2024
Verified
Psychologists and epidemiologists would agree that which type of study is the most desirable design, the "gold standard" of scientific research?
A) Case-control study
B) Randomized placebo-controlled double-blind trial
C) Natural experiment
D) Correlational study
Randomized
Pertaining to a process of selection or arrangement in which each item of a set has an equal probability of being chosen.
Placebo-controlled
A method in clinical trials where one group receives the treatment being tested and another (the control group) receives a placebo, to assess the treatment's effectiveness.
Case-control Study
A research study that compares patients who have a disease or outcome of interest (cases) with patients who do not have the disease or outcome (controls), to find associations between the disease and potential risk factors.
- Identify the essential value of randomized controlled trials as the leading paradigm in experimental design.
Verified Answer
BJ
Brandon JustinMay 01, 2024
Final Answer :
B
Explanation :
Randomized placebo-controlled double-blind trials are considered the gold standard in scientific research as they provide the highest level of evidence for causality. This type of study design involves randomly assigning participants to either a treatment or placebo group, while both the researchers and participants are unaware of which group they are in (double-blind). This minimizes bias and allows for accurate analysis of the treatment's efficacy.
Learning Objectives
- Identify the essential value of randomized controlled trials as the leading paradigm in experimental design.