PILOT STUDIES Flashcards
What is a single-blind procedure?
In a single-blind procedure the participants will be unaware of the aims of the investigation. This acts as an attempt to control for the confounding effects of demand characteristics.
What is a double-blind procedure?
In a double-blind procedure neither the participants nor the researcher who conducts the study is aware of the aims of the investigation (often a third party conducts the investigation without knowing its main purpose). Double-blind procedures are often an important feature of drug trials.
How can double-blind trials be used during drug trials?
Treatment may be administered to patients by someone who is independent of the investigation and who does not know which drugs are real and which are placebos (‘fake’ drugs).
What is the central purpose of using a control group within a study?
Control is used in many experimental studies for the purpose of comparison. For example, if the change in behaviour of the experimental group is significantly greater than that of the control group, then the researcher can conclude that the cause of this effect was the independent variable.
