PSYC 2030 Chapter Notes - Chapter 7: Factorial Experiment, Internal Validity, Latin Square
28 Nov 2012
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Document Summary
In biomedical research, randomized experiments (often called trials) are considered the gold standard of causal inference. Randomized trials (the gold standard of causal inference in biomedical research) can also fluctuate with regard to their potential value. [1] first, perfect control is often hard to achieve. [2] second, patients who experiment adverse reactions to an experiment drug may, without telling the researchers, decide to reduce their assigned dosage. [3] third, assigning patients with a terminal illness to a placebo group could have legal ramifications. Three reasons for using randomized assignment; [1] random assignment provides a safeguard against the possibility of researchers" subconsciously letting their opinions or preferences influence which sampling units will receive any given treatment. Sampling units is simply a general way of referring to the participants, subjects, groups, or objects being studied. Treatment for the manipulation or intervention and as a way of referring to the conditions to which sampling units are allocated.
