Discuss How Random Assignment Removes or Greatly Reduces Confounding Bias

Question

Examlex · Accepted Answer

The Answer is Random assignment is a crucial method in research design that helps to remove or greatly reduce confounding bias. Confounding bias occurs when an extraneous variable is associated with both the treatment and the outcome, leading to a spurious relationship between the two. By using random assignment, researchers can ensure that participants are assigned to different treatment groups in a completely random and unbiased manner.

This random assignment helps to distribute potential confounding variables evenly across the treatment groups, making it less likely that any one group will be systematically different from the others. As a result, any observed differences in outcomes between the treatment groups can be more confidently attributed to the treatment itself, rather than to any other external factors.

In essence, random assignment helps to create comparable groups, which is essential for drawing valid conclusions about the effects of a treatment. Without random assignment, researchers run the risk of introducing bias into their study, which can undermine the validity of their findings. Therefore, random assignment is a powerful tool for ensuring the internal validity of research studies and for minimizing the impact of confounding bias.

Discuss How Random Assignment Removes or Greatly Reduces Confounding Bias

Definitions: