Control Conditions and Ethical Design

Research Methods — Week 9. From the comprehensive notes.

What is a placebo control condition?

A simulated treatment without the active component, used to distinguish treatment effects from expectations.

What is a wait-list control condition?

Participants initially serve as a comparison group and receive the treatment later.

Why might a wait-list control be useful?

It permits comparison while eventually offering a potentially helpful treatment.

What is a pretest?

A baseline measure obtained before treatment.

What is a post-test?

An outcome measure obtained after the experimental manipulation.