1 A researcher aimed to
investigate whether a new drug
effectively reduces blood
pressure in adults with
hypertension. The researcher
selected a group of 100 adults
with hypertension and randomly
divided them into two groups.
Group A received the new drug,
while Group B received a
placebo. Both groups were
monitored for changes in their
blood pressure over six weeks.
The data was collected, and
statistical analysis was conducted
to determine if there is a
significant difference in blood
pressure changes between the
two groups.
A researcher is interested in
studying
the eating habits of customers
The research method used in this
study is a randomized controlled
trial (RCT) or experimental
method
The research method used in this
scenario is known as naturalistic
observation.
Justification for using an RCT in
this scenario:
Randomization: Randomly
assigning participants into two
groups (drug and placebo) helps
in minimizing the influence of
confounding variables. It ensures
that any differences observed in
the outcomes (blood pressure
changes) between the groups are
more likely due to the
intervention (new drug) rather
than other factors.
Control Group: The use of a
control group (receiving a
placebo) allows for a comparison
against the intervention group.
This helps in assessing the true
effect of the new drug by
providing a baseline for
comparison.
Blinding: Though it's not explicitly
mentioned, often in RCTs,
blinding (single-blind or double-
blind) is employed to reduce
bias. Blinding prevents both the
participants and the researchers
from knowing who is receiving
the drug or placebo, reducing the
potential for bias in the
assessment of outcomes.
Quantitative Analysis: The study
involves quantitative
measurement (blood pressure
changes) over a specific period,
allowing for statistical analysis to
determine the significance of the
differences observed between
the groups.
Replicability and Reliability: RCTs
are generally considered one of
the most reliable methods for
evaluating the effectiveness of
interventions. Their controlled
design and randomized allocation
increase the potential for
replicability of results.
The use of an RCT in this scenario
allows for a more rigorous
assessment of whether the new
drug effectively reduces blood
pressure compared to using
other research methods.
Non-Intrusive Data Collection: The
researcher is observing and recording
behavior in its natural setting without any
interference or manipulation of the
environment or participants. This allows