In a study of the effects of saccharine, who received the placebo?

In a study of the effects of saccharine, who received the placebo?

• A. The experimental group
• B. The group receiving saccharine
• C. The group receiving sugar
• D. The group which has never been tested before

Answer: (C)

The correct answer is the group receiving sugar because in a study examining the effects of saccharine, the placebo is typically a substance that looks like the treatment but has no therapeutic effect. In this context, sugar is often used as a standard to compare against the artificial sweetener—saccharine—since both provide a sweet taste, thus making it an appropriate placebo. The group receiving sugar would serve as the control against which the effects of saccharine are measured, allowing researchers to determine any differences in outcomes. Using sugar as a comparator rather than a true placebo helps in understanding the relative effects of saccharine, since the participants would likely perceive both substances as sweet, masking any bias related to taste. In contrast, the experimental group is the one that is actually receiving saccharine. The group that has never been tested before does not fit the traditional roles of either an experimental or control group and would not serve as a useful comparison for evaluating the effects of saccharine versus placebo.

The correct answer is the group receiving sugar because in a study examining the effects of saccharine, the placebo is typically a substance that looks like the treatment but has no therapeutic effect. In this context, sugar is often used as a standard to compare against the artificial sweetener—saccharine—since both provide a sweet taste, thus making it an appropriate placebo.

The group receiving sugar would serve as the control against which the effects of saccharine are measured, allowing researchers to determine any differences in outcomes. Using sugar as a comparator rather than a true placebo helps in understanding the relative effects of saccharine, since the participants would likely perceive both substances as sweet, masking any bias related to taste.

In contrast, the experimental group is the one that is actually receiving saccharine. The group that has never been tested before does not fit the traditional roles of either an experimental or control group and would not serve as a useful comparison for evaluating the effects of saccharine versus placebo.