Random assignment was used
Research methodology and reporting expression
Use this to prove your groups were formed by luck, ensuring your results are fair and scientifically valid.
En 15 secondes
- Groups were created by pure chance to ensure fairness.
- Used to prove that results aren't biased by personal choice.
- Essential for academic papers, business tests, and formal reports.
Signification
This phrase means you put people into groups by pure luck, like flipping a coin or drawing names from a hat. It ensures that everyone has an equal chance of being in any group, making your results fair and unbiased.
Exemples clés
3 sur 6Writing a university psychology paper
To ensure internal validity, random assignment was used for both the control and experimental groups.
To ensure internal validity, random assignment was used for both the control and experimental groups.
Explaining a marketing test to a boss
We wanted to see which email subject line worked better, so random assignment was used for our subscriber list.
We wanted to see which email subject line worked better, so random assignment was used for our subscriber list.
Settling a minor argument with friends about chores
Don't blame me for the dishes; random assignment was used to pick the chores this week!
Don't blame me for the dishes; random assignment was used to pick the chores this week!
Contexte culturel
The concept gained massive popularity with the rise of Evidence-Based Medicine in the late 20th century. It represents a shift in Western thought from trusting experts' intuition to trusting mathematical probability. Today, it is a buzzword in Silicon Valley for 'A/B testing' everything from button colors to dating app algorithms.
Passive Voice is Key
In science, we use 'was used' (passive) to sound objective. It makes it seem like the process is more important than the person doing it.
Assignment vs. Selection
Don't mix these up! 'Selection' is choosing who enters the room. 'Assignment' is choosing which chair they sit in once they are inside.
En 15 secondes
- Groups were created by pure chance to ensure fairness.
- Used to prove that results aren't biased by personal choice.
- Essential for academic papers, business tests, and formal reports.
What It Means
Imagine you have a big bowl of mixed candies. You want to test if the red ones make you run faster than the blue ones. Random assignment was used means you didn't pick your favorite runners for the red group. Instead, you closed your eyes and picked names at random. This process stops you from accidentally cheating. It makes sure the groups are basically the same before the test starts. It is the gold standard for proving that one thing actually causes another.
How To Use It
You usually place this phrase in the 'Methods' section of a report. It sounds very official and scientific. You can use it as a standalone sentence to explain your process. If you are talking to a friend, you might say, 'We used random assignment for the office secret Santa.' It tells people that there was no bias involved. Use it when you want to sound credible and organized. It shows you followed a fair system.
When To Use It
Use it during university presentations or when writing research papers. It is perfect for business meetings when discussing A/B testing for a website. If you are explaining why a certain project failed or succeeded, this phrase adds weight. It is also great for settling disputes about fairness. Tell your kids, Random assignment was used to decide who gets the front seat. It makes you sound like a very fair (and slightly nerdy) parent.
When NOT To Use It
Don't use this at a romantic dinner when choosing a wine. It sounds way too robotic for a date. Avoid it in casual texts unless you are being funny. If you chose people based on their skills, do not use this phrase. That would be 'purposive sampling,' not random. Also, don't confuse it with 'random selection.' Selection is about who gets into the study; assignment is about which group they join once they are in.
Cultural Background
This phrase comes from the world of statistics and clinical trials. In the mid-20th century, it became the 'holy grail' of scientific integrity. Western culture places a high value on 'objectivity' and 'blind fairness.' We love the idea that a machine or a coin flip is more honest than a human. It reflects a cultural desire for data-driven proof over personal opinion. Using it signals that you value logic and equality.
Common Variations
Participants were randomly assigned(More common in academic writing)We used a randomizer(More casual/tech-focused)The groups were randomized(Short and punchy)Assignment was done at random(Slightly more descriptive)
Notes d'usage
This is a high-level academic and professional expression. It is almost always used in the passive voice to maintain an objective tone. Avoid using it in highly emotional or very informal settings unless you are using it for comedic effect.
Passive Voice is Key
In science, we use 'was used' (passive) to sound objective. It makes it seem like the process is more important than the person doing it.
Assignment vs. Selection
Don't mix these up! 'Selection' is choosing who enters the room. 'Assignment' is choosing which chair they sit in once they are inside.
The 'Fairness' Obsession
English speakers love this phrase because it implies 'blind justice.' It's a cultural shortcut for saying 'I didn't play favorites!'
Exemples
6To ensure internal validity, random assignment was used for both the control and experimental groups.
To ensure internal validity, random assignment was used for both the control and experimental groups.
This is the standard academic way to report methodology.
We wanted to see which email subject line worked better, so random assignment was used for our subscriber list.
We wanted to see which email subject line worked better, so random assignment was used for our subscriber list.
Shows the boss that the marketing test was professionally handled.
Don't blame me for the dishes; random assignment was used to pick the chores this week!
Don't blame me for the dishes; random assignment was used to pick the chores this week!
Using formal language for a silly situation creates a funny effect.
Was random assignment used in this study to determine who received the placebo?
Was random assignment used in this study to determine who received the placebo?
A smart way to ask if a medical study is high quality.
I didn't pick the hard part on purpose, I swear! Random assignment was used.
I didn't pick the hard part on purpose, I swear! Random assignment was used.
Deflecting blame by pointing to a fair system.
Random assignment was used to see who goes first, so no one is being treated unfairly.
Random assignment was used to see who goes first, so no one is being treated unfairly.
Using formal logic to explain fairness to a child.
Teste-toi
Choose the correct phrase to complete the sentence for a scientific report.
To avoid bias in the clinical trial, ___ to place patients in either the drug or placebo group.
In a clinical trial, 'random assignment' is the only method that ensures a fair, unbiased test.
If you are joking with a friend about who has to pay for dinner, which phrase sounds most 'pseudo-scientific'?
The bill is yours! A coin was flipped and ___.
Using 'random assignment was used' makes a simple coin flip sound like a serious scientific procedure.
🎉 Score : /2
Aides visuelles
Formality of 'Random assignment was used'
We just picked names from a hat.
I used a hat.
The groups were chosen at random.
We randomized the groups.
The standard phrase for research and reporting.
Random assignment was used.
When to use 'Random assignment was used'
Academic Paper
Describing a psych study.
Business Meeting
Explaining A/B website tests.
Legal/Compliance
Proving a fair hiring lottery.
Sarcastic Joke
Explaining why you have the worst seat.
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsIt means you used a chance-based method, like a random number generator, to put people into different groups for a test.
Yes! 'Randomly selected' means how you picked your participants from the world. 'Random assignment' is how you split those people into groups.
You can, but it sounds very formal. Usually, people use it casually only if they are being slightly sarcastic or very precise, like Random assignment was used to pick the driver.
In formal English writing, the passive voice was used sounds more professional and unbiased than saying I used.
Mostly, but it's common in business (marketing tests), law (jury selection), and even high-level sports (tournament brackets).
You could say The participants were randomized or Groups were allocated by chance.
No, but it means the study is 'internally valid.' It means the groups were equal at the start, which is a big deal in research.
Absolutely. You can say Random assignment was used to test three different types of soil.
Only if you want to sound like a nerd! For example: Random assignment was used to decide who buys the pizza.
The biggest mistake is saying it when you actually hand-picked the groups. If you chose them, it's not random!
Expressions liées
Randomized controlled trial
A study where people are randomly put into groups to test a new treatment.
Double-blind study
A test where neither the participants nor the researchers know who is in which group.
Control group
The group in an experiment that does not receive the special treatment.
A/B testing
A modern business term for comparing two versions of something randomly.
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