Examples
The placebo effect can be easily used in all kinds of ways, including medical research and psychology research. The whole point of this research is to learn more about the physiological and psychological effects of brand-new medications.
In medical research
When it comes to medical research, some people might receive placebo medication, while others will get the real treatment that’s being tested. The purpose is to understand the real effectiveness of the new treatment.
For instance, if the participants who are taking the real drug show a significant improvement compared to those who take the placebo (and shouldn’t feel any difference), the study might help sustain the idea that the drug is effective.
That’s why, during tests of new medications and therapies, scientists wish to know if the treatment works and if it’s improved over its older version. Throughout the research process, they usually pinpoint all sorts of side effects that the new version might cause, which is the target audience, and if the benefits outweigh the risks.
Comparing these effects of the treatment might help them establish if the effects of the medicine are caused by the medication itself or by another unknown variable.
