Chapter 4.2, Problem 70E

(a)

To determine

To explain why Fizz not simply administer the new drug and record the patients’ responses.

Explanation of Solution

In the question it is given that Fizz laboratories has developed a new drug for relieving chronic pain. Thus, Fizz not simply administer the new drug and record the patients’ responses because in this case we cannot conclude that drinking diet soda will cause an increase or decrease in the weight of the children because given the new drug to $30$ patients and no treatment to the other $30$ patients will result in a study without a control group that takes into account the placebo effect. Also the “no treatment” group is not a control group as the patients know that they do not receive a treatment and thus they do not receive a placebo. Thus the experiment should have a group of patients that receive a placebo such that we can take into account the placebo effect and eliminate the placebo effect among the patients receiving the new drug.

(b)

To determine

To explain should the patients be told whether they are getting the new drug or a placebo and how would this knowledge probably affect their reaction.

Answer to Problem 70E

No, the patients should be told whether they are getting the new drug or a placebo

Explanation of Solution

In the question it is given that Fizz laboratories has developed a new drug for relieving chronic pain. Thus, we should not think that the patients should be told whether they are getting the new drug or a placebo because we want to eliminate the placebo effect. If the patients are aware if they get the drug or the placebo, because patients who will get the placebo and now they get the placebo, will most likely than not get any pain relief, which is possible if they do not know they get the placebo.