Researchers randomly assigned patients with severe acne to one of two treatments: the standard topical antibiotic (our control) or a new antibiotic taken orally (the treatment). Six months later an evaluation of skin problems was made by a doctor who did not know which medication subjects had been given. What is the primary advantage of random assignment of the treatment?
A) It ensures that the study participants are representative of the larger population.
B) It allows inference back to a population of patients with acne.
C) It allows the researchers to infer that any difference in outcome was due to the treatments.
D) It ensures that the subject doesn't know which treatment they are getting.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Random assignment helps ensure that any differences in outcomes between the groups can be attributed to the treatments rather than other factors, thus allowing causal inference.

Researchers Randomly Assigned Patients with Severe Acne to One of Two