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A randomized controlled trial (or randomized control trial; [2] RCT) is a form of scientific experiment used to control factors not under direct experimental control. Examples of RCTs are clinical trials that compare the effects of drugs, surgical techniques, medical devices , diagnostic procedures , diets or other medical treatments.
Randomized, controlled, crossover experiments are especially important in health care. In a randomized clinical trial , the subjects are randomly assigned treatments. When such a trial is a repeated measures design, the subjects are randomly assigned to a sequence of treatments.
Random experiments are often conducted repeatedly, so that the collective results may be subjected to statistical analysis. A fixed number of repetitions of the same experiment can be thought of as a composed experiment, in which case the individual repetitions are called trials. For example, if one were to toss the same coin one hundred times ...
(where ! denotes factorial) possible run sequences (or ways to order the experimental trials). Because of the replication , the number of unique orderings is 90 (since 90 = 6!/(2!*2!*2!)). An example of an unrandomized design would be to always run 2 replications for the first level, then 2 for the second level, and finally 2 for the third level.
In the statistical theory of design of experiments, randomization involves randomly allocating the experimental units across the treatment groups.For example, if an experiment compares a new drug against a standard drug, then the patients should be allocated to either the new drug or to the standard drug control using randomization.
Randomization is a statistical process in which a random mechanism is employed to select a sample from a population or assign subjects to different groups. [1] [2] [3] The process is crucial in ensuring the random allocation of experimental units or treatment protocols, thereby minimizing selection bias and enhancing the statistical validity. [4]
To control for nuisance variables, researchers institute control checks as additional measures. Investigators should ensure that uncontrolled influences (e.g., source credibility perception) do not skew the findings of the study. A manipulation check is one example of a control check. Manipulation checks allow investigators to isolate the chief ...
Randomized controlled trial [5]. Blind trial [6]; Non-blind trial [7]; Adaptive clinical trial [8]. Platform Trials; Nonrandomized trial (quasi-experiment) [9]. Interrupted time series design [10] (measures on a sample or a series of samples from the same population are obtained several times before and after a manipulated event or a naturally occurring event) - considered a type of quasi ...