Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
An experimental treatment method refers to an unproven or novel intervention used by psychologists during therapy sessions or clinical settings. These methods typically lack substantial evidence regarding their effectiveness or potential risks.
A group within an experiment that does not receive the experimental treatment but serves as a basis for comparison with the group receiving the treatment.
The phenomenon where participants experience improvements in symptoms simply because they believe they are receiving a beneficial treatment.
Double-blind Study: A research design where both participants and researchers are unaware of who is receiving the experimental treatment versus placebo/control conditions.