What is compensatory equalization?

Compensatory equalization refers to a situation in research where there is an unintentional bias that occurs when non-treatment or control groups receive benefits or support that effectively equalize their situation with the treatment group. This can result from the researchers or those conducting an intervention unintentionally providing additional assistance to the control group. The core issue is that this extra support can confound the research outcomes by mitigating the observable effects of the treatment being tested, making it appear that the treatment is less effective than it actually is.

In this context, the notion of inadvertently assisting the control group highlights how such actions can compromise the integrity of the research by creating an environment where both groups are not truly isolated in their conditions, potentially skewing the results and conclusions drawn from the study. This concept is crucial in designing experiments to ensure that control groups remain unaffected by additional interventions that could interfere with the intended comparison.