What is the difference between a single blind and double blind experiment?

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In a single blind study, the participants in the clinical trial do not know if they are receiving the placebo or the real treatment. In a double-blind study, both the participants and the experimenters do not know which group got the placebo and which got the experimental treatment.



Hereof, what is a double blind experiment and what is the advantage it has over a single blind experiment?

A double-blind study is one in which neither the participants nor the experimenters know who is receiving a particular treatment. This procedure is utilized to prevent bias in research results. Double-blind studies are particularly useful for preventing bias due to demand characteristics or the placebo effect.

Subsequently, question is, what is double blind testing? Definition of double-blind. : of, relating to, or being an experimental procedure in which neither the subjects nor the experimenters know which subjects are in the test and control groups during the actual course of the experiments — compare open-label, single-blind.

Additionally, what does a single blind study mean?

Definition of single-blind. : of, relating to, or being an experimental procedure in which the experimenters but not the subjects know the makeup of the test and control groups during the actual course of the experiments — compare double-blind, open-label.

Why might a double blind study yield more reliable results than a single blind study?

Largely because it reduces the potential of bias interfering with the result of the study. To explain, a double blind study is a type of randomized control trial which in turn is a trial testing the efficacy of a new drug or therapeutic measure against a placebo or preexisting drug.

37 Related Question Answers Found

Why is it important to use blinding in an experiment?

In medicine, when researchers are testing a new medicine, they ensure that the placebo looks, and tastes, the same as the actual medicine. A blind experiment reduces the risk of bias from this effect, giving an honest baseline for the research, and allowing a realistic statistical comparison.

How do you avoid participant bias?

  1. Ensure them that everything is confidential.
  2. Present information in a judgement-free way.
  3. Using a randomized response technique.
  4. Have a large sample size.
  5. Avoid telling overly-detailed descriptions of the study to the subject in order to avoid priming them.

How do you double blind an experiment?

Normally this is done by using a third party to randomly assign the subjects to the groups, and keeping the assignment secret from even the researchers, until after the experiment is complete. The result is a double blind experiment: Both the subjects and experimenters are unaware of who got what.

What is an example of a double blind experiment?

A double-blind experiment is beneficial when testing a specific medication. Half of the participants are given the medication, and the remaining participants are given a placebo. A placebo is an inactive substance such as a sugar pill that looks identical to the medication.

When would you use a single blind study?


In a single blind study, the participants in the clinical trial do not know if they are receiving the placebo or the real treatment. This is done to reduce the risk of errors, since some participants might produce spurious results if they know that they are taking the placebo or medication.

Why is double blind important?

The double blind method is an important part of the scientific method, used to prevent research outcomes from being 'influenced' by the placebo effect or observer bias. Blinded research is an important tool in many fields of research, from medicine, to psychology and the social sciences, to forensics.

What is the independent variable in an experiment?

An independent variable is defines as the variable that is changed or controlled in a scientific experiment. Independent variables are the variables that the experimenter changes to test their dependent variable. A change in the independent variable directly causes a change in the dependent variable.

Which is the control group in an experiment?

A control group is a group separated from the rest of the experiment such that the independent variable being tested cannot influence the results. This isolates the independent variable's effects on the experiment and can help rule out alternative explanations of the experimental results.

Why is single blind procedure used?

Reasons to Conduct a Single-Blind Study
The reason for keeping participants in the dark about what the researchers are looking for and what treatment they are receiving is to try to prevent participants from altering their behavior to conform to what they think the researchers expect.

What is a blind review?


The “blind” in single blind review refers to what information authors can see. In a single blind peer review, reviewers' identities are kept hidden from authors. This is the traditional form of peer review, and it's still the type that's most common.

What is a triple blind study?

triple-blind study. A double-blind study in which, in addition, the identities of those enrolled in the study and control groups and/or the details about the nature of the interventions (for example, experimental medications), are withheld from the statistician(s) who conduct the analysis of the data.

What is single blinding in statistics?

of or relating to an experiment or clinical trial in which the researchers but not the subjects know which subjects are receiving the active medication or treatment and which are not: a technique for eliminating subjective bias, as the placebo effect, from the test results.

What is bias in research?

Research bias, also called experimenter bias, is a process where the scientists performing the research influence the results, in order to portray a certain outcome.

What is a blind experiment in psychology?

A blind or blinded experiment is a scientific experiment where some of the people involved are prevented from knowing certain information that might lead to conscious or subconscious bias on their part, thus invalidating the results. The opposite of a blind trial is an open trial.

What is double blind in statistics?


What is Blinding in Statistics? In medical trials, the term blinding, or double-blind, usually refers to the practice of keeping patients in the dark as to whether they are receiving a placebo or not. It can also refer to allocation concealment, which is used to avoid selection bias.

What is blind sample?

blind sample. [¦blīnd ′samp·?l] (analytical chemistry) In chemical analysis, a selected sample whose composition is unknown except to the person submitting it; used to test the validity of the measurement process.

What is a double blind procedure?

n an experimental procedure in which neither the subjects of the experiment nor the persons administering the experiment know the critical aspects of the experiment. “a double-blind procedure is used to guard against both experimenter bias and placebo effects”