Blinding for precision scattering experiments: The MUSE approach as a case study

TL;DR

This paper discusses the importance of blinding in precision scattering experiments to prevent bias, using the Muon Scattering Experiment as a case study to illustrate effective blinding strategies.

Contribution

It introduces a tailored blinding scheme for the Muon Scattering Experiment, highlighting how to minimize bias in nuclear physics measurements.

Findings

Identified common threats to unbiased analysis.

Outlined blinding techniques applicable to nuclear physics experiments.

Demonstrated the implementation of blinding in the MUSE experiment.

Abstract

Human bias is capable of changing the analysis of measured data sufficiently to alter the results of an experiment. It is incumbent upon modern experiments, especially those investigating quantities considered contentious in the broader community, to blind their analysis in an effort to minimize bias. The choice of a blinding model is experiment specific, but should also aim to prevent accidental release of results before an analysis is finalized. In this paper, we discuss common threats to an unbiased analysis, as well as common quantities that can be blinded in different types of nuclear physics experiments. We use the Muon Scattering Experiment as an example, and detail the blinding scheme used therein.