Imagine That a Researcher Tests a New Form of Psychotherapy

question 47

Essay

Imagine that a researcher tests a new form of psychotherapy for depression by randomly assigning depressed people to two groups: one that receives the psychotherapy and one that receives no treatment. Imagine further after a month the treatment group is significantly less depressed than the control group. Explain why this does not constitute good evidence that the new psychotherapy works.

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Definitions:

Basal Metabolic Rate

The pace at which energy is expended by the body during rest to preserve critical activities such as respiration and temperature regulation.

Unfamiliar Foods

Food items that are not known or recognized by an individual, often leading to hesitancy or curiosity in tasting.

Toxic Substances

Materials or compounds that can cause harm to living organisms through ingestion, inhalation, or skin contact.

Social Facilitation

The tendency for people to perform differently when in the presence of others than when alone, typically showing improvement in performance on simple or well-learned tasks.