Question 1

Why should product directors care about the history of randomized clinical trials?

Accepted Answer

Understanding where RCTs came from—and how they were contested at every stage—clarifies what A/B testing and causal inference can and cannot do. Demirdjian shows that the RCT is a young, culturally contingent practice, not a logical inevitability, which is valuable context when applying the method to non-medical product decisions.

Question 2

Does Demirdjian argue that RCTs should be applied beyond medicine?

Accepted Answer

Not explicitly. Rather, she frames the extension of RCTs to non-medical contexts as 'a cultural choice more than a logical inevitability'—suggesting product directors should be intentional and skeptical about transplanting medical methodology into product work without understanding its original constraints and assumptions.

Question 3

Is this paper technical, or accessible to non-clinicians?

Accepted Answer

It's accessible. Demirdjian writes for clinicians but in plain language, and the paper is deliberately short. It offers historical texture rather than technical depth, making it suitable for product professionals who want foundational understanding without specialized medical training.