Question

1. One purpose of random assignment in a randomized clinical trial is to:
   1. Make sure that the participants are representative of the general population
   2. Facilitate proper measurement of the outcome variable
   3. Achieve comparability between the groups
   4. Increase bias in allocating subjects to treatment groups

Answer 1

The answer is C . Achieve comparability between the groups. Random assignment produces comparable groups, the experimental and control groups by flip a coin method or slips of paper method.

A is false. Because through random assignment it couldn't claim that the participants are the actual representative of the general population. Random assignment ensures that each subject has an equal chance of being placed into any one of the study groups. A sample is a subset of the population that represent the general population.

B is false. The random assignment cannot measure the outcome variable. Outcome variable can be measured through nominal, ordinal, interval and ratio. Random sampling ensures each subject of the population has an equal and independent chance of being chosen.

D is false. Random assignment decreases the chance of biases because the samples are selected by chance.