What does blind experiment mean in biology?
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Home » FAQ » What Is The Difference Between Single Blind And Double Blind Clinical Trials? Show When undertaking a clinical trial, the two major models that one can use are the single blind and double blind trials. Selecting the right trial is important since it can affect the
outcome of the trial or introduce errors. The ideal model should be selected based on the type of trial and other variables. For any clinical trial, there are usually two groups of people who are experimented on. Members of one group are given a placebo, and the members of another group are given the treatment that is being studied. This is so as to compare the effectiveness of the treatment to placebo. 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. In this model, the experimenter monitoring the participants knows which individuals received the placebo and which ones got the treatment under examination. 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. This is considered to be the superior model of clinical research since it eliminates outcomes that are produced due to placebo effect, as well as observer bias by the experimenter. The fact that the experimenter does not know which group received the placebo or the experimental drug means that the risk of conscious and unconscious observer bias is reduced, making the study more accurate. Blinding techniques are also used to avoid bias. In a single-blind study the participants do not know what treatment groups they are in, but the researchers interacting with them do know. In a double-blind study, the participants do not know what treatment groups they are in and neither do the researchers who are interacting with them directly. Double-blind studies are used to prevent researcher bias. Blinding Procedure employed in research to prevent bias in which the participants and/or the researchers interacting with the participations do not know which treatment each case is receiving Single-Blind Study Research study in which the participants do not know the treatment group that they have been assigned to Double-Blind Study Research study in which neither the participants nor the researchers interacting with them know which cases have been assigned to which treatment groups Example: Yogurt Tasting SectionResearchers are comparing a low-fat blueberry yogurt to a high-fat blueberry yogurt. Participants are randomly assigned to receive one type of yogurt. After tasting it, they complete an online survey. The researchers know which yogurt containers are low-fat and which are high-fat, but participants are not told. This is an example of a single-blind study because the researchers know which participants are in the low- and high-fat groups but the participants do not know. A double-blind study may not be necessary in this case since the researchers have only minimal contact with the participants. Example: Caffeine Energy Study SectionResearchers want to know if adult males who consume high amounts of caffeine interact more energetically. They obtain a representative sample and randomly assign half of the participants to take a caffeine pill and half to take a placebo pill. The pills are randomly numbered and coded so at the time the researchers do not know which participants have been given caffeine and which have been given the placebo. All participants are told that they may have been given a caffeine pill. After taking the pill, researchers observe the participants interacting with one another and rate the interactions in terms of level of energy. This is a double-blind study because neither the researchers nor the participants know who is in which group at the time the data are collected. After the data are collected, researchers can look at the pill codes to determine which groups the participants were in to conduct their analyses. A double-blind study is necessary here because the researchers are observing and rating the participants. If the researchers know who is in the caffeine group they may be more likely to rate their levels of energy as very high because that is consistent with their hypothesis. A blind — or blinded — study is an experiment in which information about the test is masked (kept) from the participant, to reduce or eliminate bias, until after a trial outcome is known. Blind testing is used wherever items are to be compared without influences from testers' preferences or expectations, for example, in clinical trials to evaluate the effectiveness of medicinal drugs and procedures without placebo effect, nocebo effect, observer bias, or conscious deception; and comparative testing of commercial products to objectively assess user preferences without being influenced by branding and other properties not being tested. Blinding can be imposed on researchers, technicians, subjects, and funders. The opposite of a blind trial is an open trial. Blind experiments are an important tool of the scientific method, in many fields of research: medicine; psychology and the social sciences; natural sciences, such as physics and biology; applied sciences, such as market research; and many others. In some disciplines, such as medicinal drug testing, blind experiments are considered essential. In some cases, while blind experiments would be useful, they are impractical or unethical; an example is in the field of developmental psychology. Adapted from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Internet. Accessed on June 14, 2016. To citeDouble-blind study. IAHPC Pallipedia. https://pallipedia.org/double-blind-study/. Accessed What is a blind experiment in biology?In a blind or blinded experiment, information which may influence the participants of the experiment is withheld until after the experiment is complete.
What is blind testing in science?Blind testing is the experimentation on participants who are “blind” (unaware) of whether or not they are in the experimental or control group. They also are usually unaware of what the independent and dependent variables are. The experimental group is the group exposed to the independent variable.
What is an example of a blind experiment?Example: Yogurt Tasting
The researchers know which yogurt containers are low-fat and which are high-fat, but participants are not told. This is an example of a single-blind study because the researchers know which participants are in the low- and high-fat groups but the participants do not know.
What makes an experiment blind?Explanation: A blind experiment is one in which the participant does not know which experimental group they are in-- which is accomplished by not letting them know if they are in the Experimental or Placebo group.
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