Just began working on a school-based RCT, and keep hearing the term “contamination,” which refers to students in the control and intervention groups sharing information and influencing one another’s behavior. Does anyone know a more equitable, less stigmatizing term for this? Because the research has to do with sexual health education, and there is so much stigma around this (especially regarding young women’s behavior), I think using the term “contamination” is harmful. Many thanks for any thoughts!
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Hmm, great question. “Cross-exposure”?
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Agree - excellent question.
I like @Suz_Kinsky’s suggestion a lot. It might be the best one I’ve heard.
Others I can come up with include spill-over (which I think might already be an official synonym in some sectors) or unintentionally-exposed. Not great though.
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Thanks Suz. I like cross-exposure.
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