Scenario | Experimental Group | Control Group | Possible Interpretation [10] | FD % (n) | DD/MI % (n) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
S1 | Random guess | Random guess | Possibly most ideal from the scientific or statistical perspective | 11.8 (2) | 18.2 (2) |
S2 | Random guess | Opposite guess | Rare | 5.9 (1) | 9.1 (1) |
S3 | Random guess | Unblinded | Possibly little treatment effect and no effect in control group | 5.9 (1) | 0 (0) |
S4 | Unblinded | Unblinded | Possibly problematic | 11.8 (2) | 9.1 (1)a |
S5 | Unblinded | Opposite guess | Ideal – patients tend to have wishful thinking, strong placebo effect, and any treatment administered is perceived as real treatment | 29.4 (5) | 45.5 (5) |
S6 | Unblinded | Random guess | Possibly problematic – patients in control group do not know what to expect in the absence of treatment | 29.4 (5) | 18.2 (2) |
S7 | Opposite guess | Opposite guess | Rare | 0 (0) | 0 (0) |
S8 | Opposite guess | Random guess | Rare | 5.9 (1) | 0 (0) |
S9 | Opposite guess | Unblinded | No treatment effect at all or patients may have low expectations | 0 (0) | 0 (0) |