Randomized trial

A Randomized trial (pronunciation: /ˈrandəˌmīzd/ /trīəl/), also known as a randomized clinical trial or randomized control trial (RCT), is a type of experimental design used in medical research to test the effectiveness of different interventions.

Etymology

The term "randomized trial" originates from the statistical concept of randomization, which refers to the process of assigning participants to different groups in a study by chance, rather than by choice. This helps to ensure that the results of the study are not biased by the selection of participants.

Definition

In a randomized trial, participants are randomly assigned to one of two or more groups: the experimental group, which receives the intervention being tested, and the control group, which receives a placebo or standard treatment. The outcomes of the two groups are then compared to determine the effectiveness of the intervention.

Related Terms

Control group: In a randomized trial, this is the group of participants who do not receive the intervention being tested. Instead, they may receive a placebo or standard treatment.

Experimental group: This is the group of participants in a randomized trial who receive the intervention being tested.

Placebo: A substance or treatment that has no therapeutic effect, used as a control in testing new drugs.

Blinding: A technique used in randomized trials to prevent bias by ensuring that the participants and researchers do not know which group each participant is in.

Randomization: The process of assigning participants to different groups in a study by chance, rather than by choice.

Clinical trial: A research study that tests how well new medical approaches work in people.

External links

Medical encyclopedia article on Randomized trial
Wikipedia's article - Randomized trial

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Randomized trial