Chapter 6.2, Problem 6.32E

(a)

To determine

To find out that was the experiment double-blind or not and explain why this is important.

Answer to Problem 6.32E

It was not double-blind.

Explanation of Solution

The described study is not double-blind because the subject knows which treatment they receive and the person who measures the results also knows which treatment was received.

(b)

To determine

To identify did the experimental design take the placebo effect into account and explain why this is important.

Answer to Problem 6.32E

Yes it take into account.

Explanation of Solution

The placebo effect is an effect produced by placebo which cannot be due to the placebo itself and is thus caused by the patient’s belief in that treatment.

The described study took into account the placebo effect because the students first completed the maze without any music where the placebo is no music.

(c)

To determine

To explain why was the coin flip important in this experiment.

Explanation of Solution

The coin flip was important to make sure that the treatment was randomly assigned to subjects since randomization is one of the three principles of experimental design.