Question

A study is being made which compares a promising new medical treatment with a control. Which of the following is the best way for the researchers to decide which subjects receive which treatment?

A. The subjects whose cases are most serious have the greatest need so they should receive the new treatment.
B. Each subject who receives the treatment should be matched up with a subject of the same age in the control group.
C. Put all the males in one group and all the females in the other.
D. Use a method that does not rely on which subject is being considered nor on the researchers' judgement.

Answer 1

The best method for assigning subjects in a medical study is random assignment, which helps eliminate biases and lurking variables, ensuring that any effects observed are due to the treatment itself.

Step-by-step explanation:

The best way for researchers to decide which subjects receive a new medical treatment or a control is through random assignment. This method ensures that allocation of subjects to either the experimental group or the control group does not rely on the researchers' judgment or specific characteristics of the subjects, such as age, gender, or severity of the condition. Random assignment eliminates the influence of lurking variables and helps to ensure that any observed effect is due to the treatment itself rather than other factors. A properly designed experiment, possibly double-blind, where both researchers and participants are unaware of who receives the active treatment, can further reduce biases and strengthen the reliability of the study's conclusions.