To determine if topiramate is an effective treatment for alcohol dependence, researchers conducted a 14-week trial of 371 men and women aged 18 to 65 years diagnosed with alcohol dependence. In this doubleblind, randomized, placebo-controlled experiment, subjects were randomly given either 300 milligrams (mg) of topiramate (183 subjects) or a placebo (188 subjects) daily, along with a weekly compliance enhancement intervention. The variable used to determine the effectiveness of the treatment was self-reported percentage of heavy drinking days. Results indicated that topiramate was more effective than placebo at reducing the percentage of heavy drinking days. The researchers concluded that topiramate is a promising treatment for alcohol dependence. Complete parts (a) through (f).
A.
The experiment will have a placebo group that takes no medication. This placebo group serves as a baseline treatment that can be used to compare to the group that is actually taking medication.
B.
The experiment will have a control group that takes a placebo, which is a lesser dose of the medication. This control group serves as a baseline treatment that can be used to compare to the group that is taking the full dose of the medication.
C.
The experiment will have a placebo group which will study the group that is actually taking the medication.
D.
The experiment will have a control group that takes a placebo, which is a innocuous medication, such as a sugar tablet. This control group serves as a baseline treatment that can be used to compare to the group that is actually taking the medication.
B.
No,D is correct.
Apologies, you are correct. D is the correct answer. The experiment will have a control group that takes a placebo, which is an innocuous medication like a sugar tablet. This control group serves as a baseline treatment that can be used to compare to the group that is actually taking the medication.
(b) What does it mean for the experiment to be double-blind? Why do you think it is necessary for the experiment to be double-blind?
First, explain what it means for the experiment to be double-blind. Choose the correct answer below.
A.
Only the researcher knows which treatment the subject is receiving.
B.
Both the subject and the researcher know which treatment the subject is receiving.
C.
Only the subject knows which treatment the subject is receiving.
D.
Neither the subject nor the researcher knows which treatment the subject is receiving.
D. Neither the subject nor the researcher knows which treatment the subject is receiving.
Why do you think it is necessary for the experiment to be double-blind?
A.
The experiment is double-blind so that the subjects receiving the medication do not behave differently and so the individual monitoring the subjects does not treat those receiving medication differently from those receiving a placebo.
B.
The experiment is double-blind so that the subjects receiving the medication know that they are not in the placebo group and can act accordingly.
A. The experiment is double-blind so that the subjects receiving the medication do not behave differently, and so the individual monitoring the subjects does not treat those receiving medication differently from those receiving a placebo. By keeping both the subjects and the researchers unaware of which treatment is being administered, it helps reduce bias and ensures more accurate results. This helps in determining the true effectiveness of the treatment being studied and avoids any subjective influences on the outcomes.
(c) What does it mean for the experiment to be randomized?
A.
It means that the different dosage levels of the medication are randomly assigned to individuals that are not taking the placebo.
B.
It means that the different dosage levels of the placebo are randomly assigned to individuals that are not taking the medication.
C.
It means that the subjects are randomly assigned to take either the topiramate or the placebo.
D.
It means that the subjects are randomly selected from all of the people in the area of the study.
C. It means that the subjects are randomly assigned to take either the topiramate or the placebo. Randomization ensures that any potential confounding factors or biases are evenly distributed between the treatment groups. This helps to eliminate the possibility of selection bias and increases the validity and reliability of the study results.
(d) What is the population for which this study applies? What is the sample?
A.
The population is 371 men and women aged 18 to 65 years diagnosed with alcohol dependence. The sample is all 18-65 year olds with alcohol dependence.
B.
The population is all 18-65 year olds. The sample is 371 men and women aged 18 to 65 years diagnosed with alcohol dependence.
C.
The population is all 18-65 year olds with alcohol dependence. The sample is 371 men and women aged 18 to 65 years diagnosed with alcohol dependence.
D.
The population is 371 men and women aged 18 to 65 years diagnosed with alcohol dependence. The sample is all 18-65 year olds.