In a recent opinion piece in the journal Nature, ROBERT MACCOUN and SAUL PERLMUTTER argue that “blind analysis” techniques, originally developed in particle physics, could be useful for the social sciences as well.  For example, in testing whether X affects Y, the data would be manipulated by a third party in such a way that the researcher would not be able to determine the true relationship. Instead, the researcher would develop the data and estimation procedures that they judged to be most likely to produce an accurate outcome.  Only after the researcher signed off on the data and estimation procedures, would they be allowed to see the result.  To read more, click here.