Random assignment: Difference between revisions

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==Random sampling==

Random sampling is a related, but distinct process.<ref name="socialresearchmethods.net">{{cite web|url=http://www.socialresearchmethods.net/kb/random.php|title=Social Research Methods - Knowledge Base - Random Selection & Assignment}}</ref> Random sampling is recruiting participants in a way that they represent a larger population.<ref name="socialresearchmethods.net"/> Because most basic statistical tests require the hypothesis of an independent randomly sampled population, random assignment is the desired assignment method because it provides control for all attributes of the members of the samples—in contrast to matching on only one or more variables—and provides the mathematical basis for estimating the likelihood of group equivalence for characteristics one is interested in, both for pretreatment checks on equivalence and the evaluation of post treatment results using inferential statistics. More advanced statistical modeling can be used to adapt the inference to the sampling method.

==History==

Randomization was emphasized in the theory of statistical inference of [[Charles Sanders Peirce|Charles S. Peirce]] in "[[Charles Sanders Peirce bibliography#illus|Illustrations of the Logic of Science]]" (1877–1878) and "[[Charles Sanders Peirce bibliography#SIL|A Theory of Probable Inference]]" (1883). Peirce applied randomization in the Peirce-[[Joseph Jastrow|Jastrow]] experiment on weight perception.

Charles S. Peirce randomly assigned volunteers to a [[blind experiment|blinded]], [[repeated measures design|repeated-measures design]] to evaluate their ability to discriminate weights.<ref name="smalldiff">{{cite journal| author=[[Charles Sanders Peirce]] and [[Joseph Jastrow]]|year=1885|title=On Small Differences in Sensation|url=http://psychclassics.yorku.ca/Peirce/small-diffs.htm| journal=Memoirs of the National Academy of Sciences|volume=3|pages=73–83}}</ref><ref name="telepathy">{{cite journal|author=[[Ian Hacking]]| title=Telepathy: Origins of Randomization in Experimental Design|journal=[[Isis (journal)|Isis]] (A Special Issue on Artifact and Experiment)|volume=79|issue=3|date=September 1988 |pages=427–451|doi=10.1086/354775| author-link=Ian Hacking}}</ref><ref name="stigler">{{cite journal|doi=10.1086/444032|author=[[Stephen M. Stigler]]|title=A Historical View of Statistical Concepts in Psychology and Educational Research| journal=American Journal of Education| volume=101|issue=1|date=November 1992|pages=60–70|author-link=Stephen M. Stigler}}</ref><ref name="dehue">{{cite journal|doi=10.1086/383850|author=Trudy Dehue|title=Deception, Efficiency, and Random Groups: Psychology and the Gradual Origination of the Random Group Design|journal=[[Isis (journal)|Isis]]|volume=88|issue=4|date=December 1997|pages=653–673|pmid=9519574}}</ref>

Peirce's experiment inspired other researchers in psychology and education, which developed a research tradition of [[randomized experiment]]s in laboratories and specialized textbooks in the eighteen-hundreds.<ref name="smalldiff"/><ref name="telepathy"/><ref name="stigler"/><ref name="dehue"/>

[[Jerzy Neyman]] advocated randomization in survey sampling (1934) and in experiments (1923).<ref name="Neyman">

{{citation|last=Neyman|first=Jerzy|authorlink=Jerzy Neyman|origyear=1923|year=1990|title=On the application of probability theory to agricultural experiments: Essay on principles (Section 9)|journal=Statistical Science|volume=5|number=4|pages=465–472|edition=Translated from (1923) Polish|editor1-first=Dorota&nbsp;M.|editor1-last=Dabrowska|editor1-link= Dorota Dabrowska |editor2-first=Terence&nbsp;P.|editor2-last=Speed|editor2-link=Terence Speed|ref=harvtxt|doi=10.1214/ss/1177012031|MRmr=1092986}}

</ref> [[Ronald A. Fisher]] advocated randomization in his [[The Design of Experiments|book]] on [[experimental design]] ([[The Design of Experiments|1935]]).

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* {{cite journal| author=[[Charles Sanders Peirce]] and [[Joseph Jastrow]]|year=1885|title=On Small Differences in Sensation| journal=Memoirs of the National Academy of Sciences|volume=3|pages=73–83|url=http://psychclassics.yorku.ca/Peirce/small-diffs.htm}} http://psychclassics.yorku.ca/Peirce/small-diffs.htm

* {{cite journal |doi=10.1086/354775 |first=Ian |last=Hacking |authorlink=Ian Hacking |title=Telepathy: Origins of Randomization in Experimental Design|journal=[[Isis (journal)|Isis]] |issue=3 |volume=79 |date=September 1988 |pages=427–451 | mr = 1013489 |jstor=234674}}

* {{cite journal |doi=10.1086/444032 |author=[[Stephen M. Stigler]] |title=A Historical View of Statistical Concepts in Psychology and Educational Research |journal=American Journal of Education |volume=101 |issue=1 |date=November 1992 |pages=60–70|author-link=Stephen M. Stigler }}

* {{cite journal |doi=10.1086/383850 |author=Trudy Dehue |title=Deception, Efficiency, and Random Groups: Psychology and the Gradual Origination of the Random Group Design |journal=[[Isis (journal)|Isis]] |volume=88 |issue=4 |date=December 1997 |pages=653–673 |pmid=9519574}}

*''Basic Psychology'' by Gleitman, Fridlund, and Reisberg.