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

October 10th 2024

stochastic

adj.

1. random or undetermined; arising from chance.

2. describing a system or process that follows a probability pattern, such that events may be analyzed according to their statistical probability but not accurately predicted. See probabilism.