A group of researchers want to determine if a new supplement is truly effective

Question

A group of researchers want to determine if a new supplement is truly effective in improving energy and alertness. A sample of participants are randomly assigned to either the treatment group which receives this supplement, or the control group which receives a placebo. Measures of health along the lines of increased alertness are carefully identified and measured. Neither the participants, nor the attending researchers or physicians analyzing the results know to which group they belong. How would you classify this study?

Question 1 options:

All of the choices are correct

Retrospective Study

Observational Study

Randomized Controlled Experiment

Prospective Study

All of the choices are correct

Retrospective Study

Observational Study

Randomized Controlled Experiment

Prospective Study

Explanation / Answer

Ans:

The above study would be classified as Randomized Controlled Experiment.

A randomized controlled trial (or randomized control trial; RCT) is a type of scientific (often medical) experiment which aims to reduce bias when testing a new treatment. The people participating in the trial are randomly allocated to either the group receiving the treatment under investigation or to a group receiving standard treatment (or placebo treatment) as the control. Randomization minimises selection bias and the different comparison groups allow the researchers to determine any effects of the treatment when compared with the no treatment (control) group, while other variables are kept constant.

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