random assignment

in experimental design, the assignment of participants or units to the different conditions of an experiment entirely at random, so that each unit or participant has an equal likelihood of being assigned to any particular condition. In clinical trials, this decreases the confounding of the treatment factor with other factors by making the treatment and control groups approximately comparable in all respects except for the treatment. Also called random allocation; randomization. See also randomized design.

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Psychology term of the day

December 23rd 2024

law of equality

a gestalt principle that parts of a figure perceived as equal tend to form a whole.