One example is testing a medication.
The researchers can put people in the study into two groups.
Both groups are told that they are getting medication.
Alex Dos Diaz / Verywell
When you might want to use it: You’ve probably heard about “the placebo effect.”
For example, say that you were given a pill to help your headaches.
You took the pill and felt better.
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However, let’s say that you were part of an experiment.
You actually took a pill that was just made of sugar.
There was no headache medicine in it.
On the other hand, people can also experience the “nocebo” effect.
When you took the pill, it made you feel dizzy, so you didn’t take it again.
