one in which the subject or the investigator (or both) are unaware of what trial product a subject is taking. See also double-blind study, single-blind study, triple-blind study
Because human psychology plays a big part in how we respond to things, blinding may be employed to ensure that subjects in an experiment do not know which of the treatments they are receiving. This is used to combat bias. For example, in a clinical trial people's beliefs could affect the outcome; thus non-drug treatment may appear to be more effective on advocates of alternative medicine. See also bias, blinded evaluation, double blind, single blind.
A double blind clinical study is one in which neither patient nor the investigator knows which drug is being administered during the study. In a single blind study the investigator but not the patient will know which drug is being taken.
A study in which observer(s) and/or subjects are kept ignorant of the group to which the subjects are assigned, as in an experimental study, or of the population from which the subjects come, as in a non-experimental or observational study. Where both observer and subjects are kept ignorant, the study is termed a double-blind study. If the statistical analysis is also done in ignorance of the group to which subjects belong, the study is sometimes described as triple blind. The purpose of "blinding" is to eliminate sources of bias. ( Diagnosis, Harm, Therapy) Keyword(s): masked study
Clinical trials are usually blinded, which means that the patient does not know whether he or she is receiving the product being tested, or given the control/placebo. This ensures that the results of a study are not adversely influenced by a possible placebo effect.
or double blind - A scientific study in which the subjects do not know whether they are receiving an experimental treatment or a placebo. In a double blind study, neither the researchers nor the subjects are aware of which treatment is received until after the study is completed.
An experimental study in which subjects do not know the treatment they are receiving; investigators may also be blind to the treatment subjects are receiving; see also double blind.
a study in which the subjects do not know whether they belong to the control group or to the group receiving treatment.