"Random assignment or random placement is an experimental technique for assigning human participants or animal subjects to different groups in an experiment..."
The process of randomly assigning participants to different experimental conditions to control for participant characteristics that could affect the outcome of an experiment.
Randomization: The process of randomly assigning participants to different groups or conditions in an experiment to reduce bias and increase the chance of obtaining reliable results.
Random sampling: The process of selecting participants from a larger population in a way that ensures that every individual has an equal chance of being chosen.
Probability: The mathematical branch that deals with the study of random events and their likelihood of occurring.
Experimental design: The planning and implementation of experiments, including the manipulation of independent variables, randomization of participants, and assignment of conditions.
Control groups: Groups used in experiments that receive no treatment or a placebo to compare to the experimental group.
Counterbalancing: The process of systematically varying the order in which conditions are presented to participants to control for order effects.
Single-blind and double-blind studies: Studies in which participants and/or researchers are unaware of which group they are in or what treatment they are receiving, to avoid bias.
Confounding variables: Extraneous variables that can affect the outcome of an experiment and that should be controlled for or eliminated.
Sampling bias: When a sample is not representative of the larger population, resulting in inaccurate or misleading results.
Power and effect size: Statistical concepts that help determine the probability of finding a significant difference or relationship between groups or conditions.
Randomization tests: Statistical methods that use random sampling to test hypotheses and determine the probability of obtaining observed results by chance.
Permutation and bootstrapping: Techniques that use random sampling to test hypotheses and determine the robustness of research results.
Simple randomization: A simple process of randomly assigning participants to groups without any specific constraints.
Block randomization: A technique of randomly assigning participants to groups in blocks, ensuring that equal number of participants are in each group.
Stratified randomization: A method of subdividing participants into subgroups based on specific characteristics before randomly assigning them to groups.
Cluster randomization: A process of randomly assigning entire groups/clusters (such as schools or hospitals) to different study groups.
Systematic randomization: A technique of selecting participants at regular intervals from a predetermined list.
Adaptive randomization: A method of randomizing participants based on previous treatment assignments and outcomes in order to maximize treatment effect.
Permutation randomization: A process of randomly assigning participants to groups by generating all possible combinations and randomizing between them.
Minimization randomization: A technique of assigning participants to groups based on minimizing differences between treatment groups in key participant characteristics.
Stratified block randomization: A combination of stratified and block randomization methods, used when there are multiple factors to be considered for group assignment.
Covariate adaptive randomization: A method of adjusting the randomization process based on specific participant characteristics, such as age or gender.
"This ensures that each participant or subject has an equal chance of being placed in any group."
"Random assignment of participants helps to ensure that any differences between and within the groups are not systematic at the outset of the experiment."
"Random assignment, blinding, and controlling are key aspects of the design of experiments because they help ensure that the results are not spurious or deceptive via confounding."
"This is why randomized controlled trials are vital in clinical research, especially ones that can be double-blinded and placebo-controlled."
"Mathematically, there are distinctions between randomization, pseudorandomization, and quasirandomization..."
"...as well as between random number generators and pseudorandom number generators."
"How much these differences matter in experiments (such as clinical trials) is a matter of trial design and statistical rigor, which affect evidence grading."
"Studies done with pseudo- or quasirandomization are usually given nearly the same weight as those with true randomization..."
"...assigning human participants or animal subjects to different groups in an experiment (e.g., a treatment group versus a control group)."
"...using randomization, such as by a chance procedure (e.g., flipping a coin) or a random number generator."
"This is why randomized controlled trials are vital in clinical research..."
"...any differences between groups recorded at the end of the experiment can be more confidently attributed to the experimental procedures or treatment."
"Random assignment, blinding, and controlling are key aspects of the design of experiments because they help ensure that the results are not spurious or deceptive via confounding."
"Random assignment of participants helps to ensure that any differences between and within the groups are not systematic at the outset of the experiment."
"...but are viewed with a bit more caution."
"How much these differences matter in experiments (such as clinical trials) is a matter of trial design and statistical rigor, which affect evidence grading."
"Random assignment, blinding, and controlling are key aspects of the design of experiments because they help ensure that the results are not spurious or deceptive via confounding."
"How much these differences matter in experiments (such as clinical trials) is a matter of trial design and statistical rigor..."
"...especially ones that can be double-blinded and placebo-controlled."