Double-Blind Trial - GCSE Biology Definition

A double-blind trial is a type of scientific experiment used to test how effective a new medicine or treatment is. In this trial, neither the participants nor the researchers know who is getting the actual treatment and who is getting a placebo, which looks like the real medicine but doesn't contain any active ingredients. This is done to make sure the results aren't influenced by anyone's expectations or biases. By keeping both the participants and researchers "blind" to which group receives the treatment, scientists can gather more reliable data on how well the treatment actually works. Double-blind trials are important for ensuring that new medicines are both safe and effective before they are widely used.