Types of Studies, Confounding Factors, Control/Treatment Group, Placebos, Blind Studies,

Observational Study

A study based on observations or measurements (taking someone’s weight)

Experimental Study

Effects of treatment are measured (heart rate after a certain # of jumping jacks)

Confounding factors

Occurs when two potential variables could have caused the outcome, and it is Not possible to determine which actually caused the result

“To help reduce the likelihood of confounding factors, sometimes a ( blank) group is used”

Control group

Control group

A group of subjects in an experiment that do not receive the treatment being tested

Treatment group

Group that receives the treatment being tested

Placebo Effect

The effectiveness of a treatment is influenced by the patient’s perception of how effective they think the treatment will be

Placebo

a dummy treatment

Placebo-Controlled Experiment

An experiment in which the control group is given a placebo

Blind study

A study in which the participants are not aware of whether they are receiving the treatment or a placebo

Double blind study

A study in which both participants and researchers aren’t aware of which participants are taking the treatment or the placebo