What best describes an SLP's research comparing a new therapy to a standard approach?

A controlled trial is designed to assess the effectiveness of a new therapy compared to a standard approach by systematically determining the outcomes for participants receiving each treatment. In this research design, participants are typically randomly assigned to either the experimental group (receiving the new therapy) or the control group (receiving the standard approach). This helps eliminate bias and allows for a more reliable comparison of outcomes.

The controlled trial often involves measuring specific outcomes after a set period to see if the new therapy provides significant benefits over the standard treatment. This rigorous methodology contributes to establishing causality and supports evidence-based practice in speech-language pathology.

In contrast, the other types of studies, such as cohort studies, cross-sectional studies, and case-control studies, have different designs and purposes. Cohort studies observe participants over a long period and follow them based on exposure to a particular treatment, while cross-sectional studies assess data at a single point in time without manipulation of treatment. Case-control studies look back retrospectively at individuals with a specific outcome compared to those without it, focusing on their prior exposures. None of these options provide the controlled conditions necessary for directly comparing the efficacy of two specific therapeutic approaches like a controlled trial does.