Phil Is a Participant in a Study Designed to Examine

question 29

Multiple Choice

Phil is a participant in a study designed to examine the effects of taking a new protein-containing product on muscle tissue development. Phil suspects he's in the experimental group, because he's certain his muscles are bigger and stronger as a result of taking the product supplied by the researchers. When the study is completed, Phil learns that he didn't receive the new source of protein. Phil thinks the researchers made a mistake-he's certain his muscle mass increased while he consumed the product. According to this information, Phil's belief that his physical condition improved while he participated in the study is an example of

• A) an anecdotal report.
• B) human subject bias.
• C) participant fatigue.
• D) the placebo effect.

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Definitions:

Diseconomies of Scale

A phenomenon where an increase in production leads to higher average costs per unit due to inefficiencies, often occurring when companies become too large.

Average Total Cost

The total cost per unit of output, calculated by dividing the total cost of production by the number of units produced.

Marginal Cost Curve

A graph that shows the change in the total cost of producing one additional unit of a good or service.

Diminishing Marginal Product

The principle that as additional units of a variable input are added to a fixed input, the additional output produced from each new unit decreases.