Obscuration refers to the process of obstructing, blocking, or hiding certain information, data, or objects in research. This can include intentionally excluding certain variables or details from a study, or masking or blurring sensitive information to protect privacy or confidentiality. Obscuration can also refer to the intentional manipulation of data to prevent unauthorized access or misuse. Researchers often employ obscuration techniques to safeguard the integrity and confidentiality of their research findings.