Lexicon Blindtest

A blind test is a test in which the test subject is unaware of which test item they are currently testing. In the case of hi-fi, this usually involves listening tests in which the tester is unaware of the component being listened to. This is to avoid that a conscious or unconscious pre-setting of the tester can have an influence on the test result.

The necessity of blind tests is derived from the observation that subjective preconceptions can falsify a test to such an extent that the test result no longer has any objective significance. It is irrelevant whether the test taker is aware of the bias or not, and it does not help if the test taker consciously tries to be objective.

In real blind tests there are usually test persons and auxiliary persons (e.g. test administrators). In many cases, the influence of the bias of the auxiliary persons must also be excluded, because this bias could be transferred to the test persons by an unconscious communication process. This can be prevented by the double-blind test, in which the helpers do not know which test item is currently active. Alternatively, all communication between the test person and the assistant can be prevented.

Sometimes even triple blinding is indicated, in which the persons evaluating the test also do not know which test item was active and when.

A classic case illustrating the necessity of such blinding is that of "clever Hans", a horse that is said to have been capable of astonishing feats of intelligence, which on closer examination eventually proved to be the result of such hidden communication processes.

Blind tests are also widespread in areas other than hi-fi, such as pharmacy, in order to arrive at objective statements about the effectiveness of substances or measures.

See also:

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