Expectation Bias

[botrytis]

35 minutes ago, bodiebill said:

 

Chris is talking about DBT as it is commonly performed, such as "we will compare cables A and B, and before we do that you put on a blindfold". So at least the context is known. If the person does not expect A and B to sound different, this may influence what he hears.

 

Your DBT is more radical. One enters the room blindfolded and does not know what gear is listened to at all -- which is less common I guess.

 

So you are both right in a sense.

 

That is not a DBT. With DBT no one knows what is being tested, except for people not connected with the actual patients as no one wants to give away things by body language. That is why it is used in testing pharmaceuticals, etc.

 

It is not more radical; it is standard protocol. That is the problem with your SBT - which is what the test you actually mention is.

[botrytis]

I appreciate that Mani. That is why, in those instances one should sample more. The reason being to determine if three was an outlier or just part of a trend.

[botrytis]

32 minutes ago, The Computer Audiophile said:

Sample more, or until you get the result you want? 🤣

 

No to get enough data to show some trends. The results shown, did not show any trends, that is why larger sample sizes help in this regard. It is basic statistics and sampling theory. 

 

[botrytis]

Just now, The Computer Audiophile said:

@pkane2001 says a sample size of one is good 🙂

 

Depends on what/who is testing. 😇

[botrytis]

5 hours ago, manisandher said:

 

A hypothesis is based on intuition, almost by definition. Curiosity then leads you to test it.

 

 

Agreed.

 

NO - a hypothesis is based on previous data, similar type of experiments, etc. It is not intuition; it many times is extrapolation.

[botrytis]

37 minutes ago, firedog said:

Agreed. The scientific use of the word is different than the lay use. A scientific hypothesis is supposed to be a proposed explanation of previously known data, etc. And it needs to be something that can be tested. 

 

In layman's terms theory = hypothesis. In Science Theory = actual proven. 

[botrytis]

28 minutes ago, musicjunkie917 said:

 

No! A scientific theory is an explanation that has been tested multiple times and accepted as valid. That is different than "proven". It is not fact.

 

https://www.forbes.com/sites/startswithabang/2017/11/22/scientific-proof-is-a-myth/?sh=7eac76842fb1

 

Well, then how do you explain the Theory of Relativity - It has only been proven partly and not when it was proposed? String theory is another, etc.

 

 

[botrytis]

On 9/30/2022 at 11:28 AM, Racerxnet said:

 

A box of rocks and a empty wallet. Some stripped 12 gauge Romex and plywood construction. Oh, and some copper bars for good measure.

 

Looks like older wiring in the US knob and tube wiring.

[botrytis]

15 hours ago, Audiophile Neuroscience said:

 

I have had decades of professional involvement and interest dealing with issues of expectation bias and related phenomena like confirmation bias, research bias, observational bias/ hawthorne effect, placebo, various cognitive biases etc. This experience has been augmented by what I have seen on audio fora for over a decade. I am no expert.

 

I am satisfied however that the answer to your question will not come easily on an Audio forum.

 

The irony, not lost on some, is that people will look to confirm their biased expectations when answering the question of the role of expectation bias in this hobby of ours.

 

 

 

 

Many audiophiles, and especially the audiophile press, ignore this. They wear their biases on their sleeves.

[botrytis]

There is plenty out there on "placebo effect' showing how strong expectation bias really is.

 

I will show one or two examples of this.

 

http://thescienceexplorer.com/brain-and-body/knowingly-taking-placebo-pills-reduces-pain-study-finds

 

https://arstechnica.com/science/2016/06/billion-dollar-brain-training-industry-a-sham-nothing-but-placebo-study-suggests/

 

[botrytis]

If people think placebo effect /expectation bias is not part of audio decisions, it will be difficult to have objective conversations about it.