1. Do Now
Watch the placebo effect video

2. Placebo Effect and Double-blind Experiments
Unit 1: Univariate Data

3. Objectives
The impact of the placebo effect on confounding and how a double-blind study can prevent it

4. Antidepressants and the Placebo Effect
In an experiment, researchers examined the effects of taking a new antidepressant on clinically depressed patients. Patients were randomly assigned to one of two groups: the first group took the antidepressant, and the second group did not. A psychologist, not knowing which patient was assigned to which group, reported on the positivity level of each patient. Researchers concluded that those taking the antidepressant had a higher level of positivity than those not taking the drug.

5. Antidepressants and the Placebo Effect
85% of depressed patients reported feeling happier  after taking the antidepressant. Is this a psychological reaction to the treatment, or are the antidepressants truly working?

6. The Placebo Effect
Placebo Effect: the psychological effect of any treatment
Using a placebo helps us measure the effect of the explanatory variable on the response variable, controlling for a natural reaction to any treatment.

7. Antidepressants and the Placebo Effect
This time we give the control group a placebo pill and the treatment group to antidepressant. The control group reports feeling 45% happier, and the treatment group reports feeling 85% happier. How much of the change in the treatment group can be explained by the placebo effect?

8. Preventing the Placebo Effect
Double-blind experiment: neither the subjects nor those who interact with them and measure the response variable know which treatment a subject received
Single-blind experiment: one side, the subjects or those measuring the response variable, know who is receiving the treatment and who is receiving the placebo

9. Did we accomplish our objective?
Have a student (cold call) attempt to connect objective to their career/field of study.

10. Independent Practice and Homework
Gallup Poll or Harris Poll on Senior Project Topic