An Alternative to the Double Blind Procedure
WILLIAM GUY PH.D.1,
MARTIN GROSS M.D.2, , and
HELEN DENNIS B.A.2
1 Program Coordinator, Biometric Laboratory, George Washington University, 1145 19th St. N. W., Washington, D. C. 20036
2 Research Department, Springfield State Hospital, Sykesville, Md.
Therapists' bias may influence the assessment of treatment results even when the procedure purports to be a blind one. The authors advocate the employment of an independent assessment team (IAT) as an alternative to the classical double blind technique. They feel the IAT serves as an additional control over therapist bias and permits the use of modified double blind procedures in a variety of research situations.
