We’re too ignorant to see why we need tests

Matthew Syed:

Is development aid effective? Do school uniforms improve discipline? Don’t guess – try it out

Doctors have been given the go-ahead to conduct a trial on victims of heart attacks. Some randomly assigned patients will get a shot of adrenaline, the treatment conventionally used in these situations. Others will get a shot of saltwater: in other words, a placebo. Doctors will then measure the outcomes to see which, if any, work better.