Citation

Martin CS, Sayette MA. J. Stud. Alcohol 1993; 54(6): 750-761.

Affiliation

Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pennsylvania 15213.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1993, Rutgers Center of Alcohol Studies)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

8271813

Abstract

This article reviews literature on the utility of different experimental designs in human alcohol administration research, with particular attention to the balanced-placebo design (BPD). Many believe the BPD can orthogonally manipulate alcohol's pharmacological effects and the effects of dosage-set (believing that one has consumed a certain amount of alcohol). However, research has accumulated that suggests these effects cannot be disentangled at moderate to high doses of alcohol. The strengths and weaknesses of a number of experimental designs are discussed with regard to the variables that designs can assess or control. Methodological issues in deception conditions and manipulation checks are reviewed. Topics in need of empirical investigation are highlighted. It is concluded that the appropriate alcohol administration design depends on the particular theoretical and methodological issues of a research program.

Language: en