Question

The goal of random assignment is the creation of equivalent groups. Note: the goal is not to produce identical groups; the groups only have to be equal on average, which is what we mean by "equivalent groups."

Answer 1

Random assignment in psychology research is used to evenly divide participants into experimental and control groups, ensuring that outcomes can be attributed to the independent variable and not to preexisting differences among the groups.

Step-by-step explanation:

Random assignment is a fundamental component of experimental design in research, particularly within the field of psychology. This process ensures that participants in a study's sample are evenly distributed into experimental and control groups, thereby reducing the likelihood of systematic differences that could skew results. Each participant has an equal chance of being assigned to any given group, which is essential for testing cause-and-effect relationships between variables. In an ideal setup, all other variables are controlled or held constant, so that any observed differences in outcomes can conclusively be attributed to the manipulation of the independent variable by the researcher.

By assuring the equivalence of groups through random assignment, researchers can confidently attribute differences in the outcome to the experimental intervention. It is crucial to note that this equivalence refers to a balance on average rather than identical composition, as various lurking variables are equally spread across groups.