Implement blinding procedures to reduce bias in experimental studies. Use when: (1) Designing RCTs, (2) Ensuring objectivity, (3) Meeting CONSORT standards, (4) Minimizing performance and detection bias.
View on GitHubastoreyai/ai_scientist
research-assistant
January 20, 2026
Select agents to install to:
npx add-skill https://github.com/astoreyai/ai_scientist/blob/main/skills/blinding/SKILL.md -a claude-code --skill blindingInstallation paths:
.claude/skills/blinding/# Blinding Procedures Skill ## Purpose Implement appropriate blinding to reduce bias in research studies. ## Types of Blinding **Single-Blind**: Participants unaware of allocation **Double-Blind**: Participants and researchers unaware **Triple-Blind**: Participants, researchers, and analysts unaware ## Who to Blind **Participants**: Reduce expectancy effects, placebo **Interventionists**: Reduce performance bias **Assessors**: Reduce detection bias **Analysts**: Reduce reporting bias ## Blinding Strategies **Medications:** - Identical placebo (same appearance, taste) - Over-encapsulation - Matching packaging **Behavioral Interventions:** - Attention-matched control - Active control condition - Blind outcome assessors **Assessments:** - Automated/computerized measures - Independent blinded raters - Objective outcomes (less bias-prone) ## When Blinding Impossible - Surgical interventions - Exercise interventions - Educational programs **Mitigation:** - Blind outcome assessors - Use objective outcomes - Report lack of blinding as limitation --- **Version:** 1.0.0