Recruiter's Glossary

Examples: Null Hypothesis • Research Funding • Case-Control Study

Placebo-Controlled

Term from Research Institutions industry explained for recruiters

A placebo-controlled study is a way to test if new medicines or treatments really work. It's like having two groups of volunteers - one group gets the real treatment, and the other gets a lookalike treatment (called a placebo) that has no active ingredients. When someone's resume mentions "placebo-controlled," it usually means they have experience running or working on these types of research studies, which are considered the gold standard in medical research. This method helps researchers prove whether a treatment actually works by comparing results between the two groups.

Examples in Resumes

Managed 5 Placebo-Controlled clinical trials for diabetes medications

Led recruitment of 500 participants for Placebo-Controlled studies in cardiovascular research

Coordinated data collection for multiple Placebo-Controlled and Double-Blind trials

Typical job title: "Clinical Research Coordinators"

Also try searching for:

Clinical Research Associate Clinical Trial Manager Research Coordinator Clinical Research Manager Clinical Operations Manager Research Project Manager Clinical Study Coordinator

Where to Find Clinical Research Coordinators

Professional Organizations

Job Boards

Professional Networks

Example Interview Questions

Senior Level Questions

Q: How do you ensure the integrity of a placebo-controlled study?

Expected Answer: The candidate should explain how they maintain study blindness, handle data securely, ensure proper randomization, and maintain ethical standards throughout the trial process.

Q: What challenges have you faced managing placebo-controlled studies and how did you overcome them?

Expected Answer: Look for examples of handling participant retention, managing side effects reporting, ensuring protocol compliance, and solving logistical issues while maintaining study integrity.

Mid Level Questions

Q: Explain how you would handle a situation where a participant wants to know if they're receiving the placebo.

Expected Answer: Should demonstrate knowledge of maintaining study blindness while showing good participant communication skills and understanding of ethical guidelines.

Q: What are the key elements you look for when reviewing a placebo-controlled study protocol?

Expected Answer: Should mention checking randomization methods, inclusion/exclusion criteria, safety monitoring procedures, and proper documentation requirements.