Blind experiment
Blind Experiment
A Blind Experiment (pronunciation: /blaɪnd ɪkˈspɛrɪmənt/) is a type of scientific experiment where some of the people involved are prevented from knowing certain information that might lead to subjective bias, thus influencing the results.
Etymology
The term "Blind Experiment" originates from the concept of blinding, which is to prevent bias by withholding information. The term "blind" is used metaphorically to refer to the withholding of information from certain participants in the experiment.
Description
In a Blind Experiment, the participants are divided into two groups: the experimental group and the control group. The experimental group is exposed to the variable being tested, while the control group is not. The participants, and sometimes even the experimenters, do not know which group they are in to prevent bias.
There are two types of Blind Experiments: single-blind and double-blind. In a single-blind study, the participants do not know whether they are in the experimental group or the control group. In a double-blind study, both the participants and the experimenters do not know who is in which group.
Related Terms
- Bias: A tendency to lean in a certain direction, either in favor of or against a particular thing.
- Control Group: A group separated from the rest of the experiment where the independent variable being tested cannot influence the results.
- Experimental Group: A group of subjects who are exposed to the variable under study.
- Single-Blind Study: A study in which the subjects do not know what treatment they are receiving.
- Double-Blind Study: A study in which neither the subjects nor the experimenters know who is receiving a particular treatment.
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