Random assignment

Definition

Random assignment is the process of assigning participants to different groups in an experiment using randomization techniques. This ensures that each participant has an equal chance of being placed in any group, eliminating selection bias.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Random assignment helps ensure the internal validity of an experiment by reducing selection bias.
2. It allows researchers to infer causality more effectively because differences in outcomes can be attributed to the treatment rather than pre-existing differences between groups.
3. Randomization can be done using various methods, including random number generators or drawing names from a hat.
4. In business statistics, random assignment is crucial for comparing different strategies or treatments objectively.
5. Not to be confused with random sampling, which involves selecting participants from a larger population.

Review Questions

• What is the primary purpose of random assignment in experimental design?
• Name two methods commonly used for performing random assignment.
• How does random assignment contribute to the internal validity of an experiment?

Related terms

Random Sampling:

A technique used to select participants from a larger population such that every individual has an equal chance of being chosen.

Internal Validity: The extent to which an experiment accurately establishes a causal relationship between variables, free from confounding factors.

Control Group:

A group in an experiment that does not receive the treatment and is used as a benchmark to measure how the other tested subjects do.