singleblinding

Singleblinding is a research methodology used primarily in experiments and clinical trials to prevent bias from affecting the results. In a single-blind study, either the participants or the researchers (or data collectors) are unaware of which treatment or intervention is being administered. This lack of knowledge is intended to ensure that their expectations or beliefs do not influence the outcome. For example, if participants know they are receiving a new, experimental drug, they might report feeling better due to the placebo effect, even if the drug has no actual therapeutic benefit. Similarly, if researchers know which participants are receiving the active treatment, they might unconsciously observe or record data in a way that favors that treatment. By keeping one group unaware, singleblinding aims to isolate the true effect of the intervention being tested. It is a step beyond an open-label study where everyone is aware of the treatment assignments but is less rigorous than a double-blind study, where both participants and researchers are kept unaware. The specific choice of who is blinded depends on the nature of the research question and the potential sources of bias.