Easy. In addition to drug group and a placebo group, have a no- treatment group, which is merely assessed at the start and finish of the study. Passage of time effects would be the same for both groups, and any differences between placebo and no- treatment groups attributable to the placebo effect. As a means of assessing the overall therapeutic value of a drug treatment (which includes its placebo effect), a no-treatment group is informative and important. It tells us what the drug will do for us if we take it, the prime concern of the drug consumer. Of course, it's also important to know how much of that effect is due to the specific action of the drug as opposed to its non- specific (placebo) effect, but more so for the researcher than the patient. Stephen
I understand all that.What if am really asking is a situation where there are only two groups-a placebo group and a passage of time group. What if both groups improve?
Michael "omnicentric"Sylvester,PhD Daytona Beach,Florida --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected]. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df5d5&n=T&l=tips&o=1234 or send a blank email to leave-1234-13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df...@fsulist.frostburg.edu
