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
The term "widely accepted effectiveness" refers to the general consensus among professionals and researchers that a particular treatment or intervention is highly successful in producing desired outcomes.
Related terms
Evidence-based practice: This term refers to the approach of using scientific evidence, research findings, and clinical expertise to guide decision-making in providing effective treatments.
Placebo effect: The placebo effect is when a person experiences an improvement in symptoms or feelings of well-being due to their belief in receiving a beneficial treatment, even if the treatment itself has no active ingredients or therapeutic properties.
Confirmation bias: Confirmation bias is the tendency for individuals to seek out or interpret information in a way that confirms their preexisting beliefs or expectations. In terms of widely accepted effectiveness, confirmation bias might lead people to overlook alternative treatments or interventions that could be equally effective.