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.

Browse dictionary by letter

a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

Psychology term of the day

November 22nd 2024

corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF)

Sorry, "corticotropin-releasing-factor-crf" is not in the Dictionary of Psychology. Please report to APA if you believe this is an error.