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Glite Dictionary
double-blind experiment

double-blind experiment

5.1
An experiment where neither the participants nor the researchers know who is in which group
  • noun
  • /ˈdʌbəl blaɪnd ɪkˈspɛrɪmənt/
  • Specialized
translation icon : experimento doble ciego
  • The findings from the double-blind experiment were more reliable because there was no bias from the experimenters or the participants.

Examples

  • The researchers conducted a double-blind experiment to ensure objectivity.

  • Can you explain what a double-blind experiment is?

  • In a double-blind experiment, neither the patients nor the doctors knew who received the placebo.

  • Researchers conducted a double-blind experiment to test the effectiveness of the new drug.

  • The clinical trial was a double-blind experiment to ensure unbiased results.

  • In a double-blind experiment, neither the participants nor the researchers know who receives the treatment and who receives the placebo.

  • Researchers concluded that the results of the double-blind experiment were valid since neither group had prior knowledge of their assignments.

Synonyms

double blind
vsdouble-blind experiment
  • Specialized
10 5.1

A test in which neither participants nor researchers know who gets the treatment

is the same idea expressed in a shorter, less technical label
double-blind study
vsdouble-blind experiment
  • Specialized
2 4.2

An experiment where neither participants nor researchers know who gets the real treatment or a fake one to avoid bias

is the same concept but named as a controlled experiment rather than a study
double-blind procedure
vsdouble-blind experiment
  • Specialized
5.4

An experiment where neither the people nor the researchers know who gets the real medicine

is the same approach but focuses on the method rather than the whole experiment

Surface Forms

double-blind experiment singular
double-blind experiments plural

Morphology

double-blind + experiment

The sense of an experiment where both sides are 'blind' is directly compositional from 'double' (two/both) + 'blind' (unaware), so a B1 learner who knows those words and 'experiment' can infer that both parties lack key information. This construction is productive in English and has clear parallels in many languages (e.g., Spanish 'doble ciego'), supporting immediate comprehension.

Etymology

Double-blind experiment comes from the image of two people being 'blind' in a test: double means two and blind means not knowing who gets the real treatment. So a double-blind experiment is one where neither the people taking part nor the researchers 'know' who is in each group, which helps to 'prevent bias'.