Final answer:
Random assignment in experiments helps evenly distribute potential lurking variables, minimizes preexisting systematic differences, and ensures any treatment effects observed are due to the manipulation of the independent variable.
Step-by-step explanation:
The primary goal for randomly assigning participants to treatment conditions in an experiment is to ensure that any potential lurking variables are evenly distributed across both the experimental and control groups. This random distribution helps in establishing a cause-and-effect relationship between the explanatory (independent) and response (dependent) variables, as it minimizes the chances of systematic differences between the groups. By eliminating preexisting differences, any observed outcomes in an experiment can more confidently be attributed to the treatment administered rather than to external factors. The use of statistical software to assist with random assignment can further enhance the process's integrity, making it less likely that the assignment will be biased by human intervention.