Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Randomized Experiments01:13

Randomized Experiments

The randomization process involves assigning study participants randomly to experimental or control groups based on their probability of being equally assigned. Randomization is meant to eliminate selection bias and balance known and unknown confounding factors so that the control group is similar to the treatment group as much as possible. A computer program and a random number generator can be used to assign participants to groups in a way that minimizes bias.
Simple randomization
Simple...
Blinding01:11

Blinding

Blinding is a commonly used method of not telling participants which treatment a subject is receiving. Blinding is a critical part of a randomized control trial or RCT. It reduces the bias that affects the results. In an RCT, blinding is used in the form of a placebo. A placebo effect occurs when untreated subjects falsely believe they have received the treatment and report improved symptoms. A placebo or a dummy treatment is administered to subjects to negate the bias caused by such an effect.
Clinical Trials01:16

Clinical Trials

Clinical trials are prospective experimental studies conducted on humans to determine the safety and efficacy of treatments, drugs, diet methods, and medical devices. Using statistics in clinical trials enables researchers to derive reasonable and accurate conclusions from the collected data, allowing them to make wise decisions in uncertain situations. In medical research, statistical methods are crucial for preventing errors and bias.
There are four phases in a clinical trial. A phase one...
Clinical Trials: Overview01:11

Clinical Trials: Overview

Clinical development focuses on how the drug will interact with the human body and encompasses four key phases of clinical trials, each serving a specific purpose in assessing the safety and effectiveness of new drugs. These phases overlap and build upon one another. Phase I involves a small group of healthy volunteers (typically 20-80 individuals) or, in cases where significant toxicity is expected, patients with the targeted disease, such as cancer or AIDS. The volunteers are tested for...
Bioequivalence Experimental Study Designs: Completely Randomized and Randomized Block Designs01:20

Bioequivalence Experimental Study Designs: Completely Randomized and Randomized Block Designs

Bioequivalence experimental study designs are crucial methodologies used in evaluating and comparing the bioavailability of different drug products. These designs are categorized into various types: completely randomized, randomized block, repeated measures, cross and carry-over, and Latin square designs.Completely randomized designs involve randomly allocating treatments to all subjects participating in the experiment. This allocation is achieved by assigning unique random numbers to subjects...
Types of Biopharmaceutical Studies: Controlled and Non-Controlled Approaches01:23

Types of Biopharmaceutical Studies: Controlled and Non-Controlled Approaches

Biopharmaceutical studies constitute a vital field aiming to enhance drug delivery methods and refine therapeutic approaches, drawing upon diverse interdisciplinary knowledge. In research methodologies, the choice between controlled and non-controlled studies significantly influences the study's reliability and accuracy.
Non-controlled studies, commonly employed for initial exploration, lack a control group, rendering them susceptible to biases and external influences. In contrast, controlled...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Refining MediQuit: an iterative, participatory approach to shared decision-making in deprescribing.

Implementation science communications·2026
Same author

[Interdisciplinarity and co-creative paradigms of applied social medicine].

Gesundheitswesen (Bundesverband der Arzte des Offentlichen Gesundheitsdienstes (Germany))·2026
Same author

Assessing physicians' agreement and the completeness of the decision aid 'arriba Diabetes': a cross-sectional study.

BMC primary care·2025
Same author

Experiences, perceptions and attitudes on providing advice on physical activity to patients with chronic ischaemic heart disease: a qualitative study in general practitioners in Germany.

Family medicine and community health·2025
Same author

Prescribing Vitamin-K-Antagonists Versus Direct Oral Anticoagulants Among Bavarian General Practitioners: A Qualitative Study.

Health services insights·2025
Same author

Trials evaluating drug discontinuation: a scoping review sub-analysis focusing on outcomes and research questions.

BMC medical research methodology·2025
Same journal

["Bringing one's own unique perspective into research" - Participants' experiences and perceptions regarding the implementation of a citizen advisory board in general practice research].

Zeitschrift fur Evidenz, Fortbildung und Qualitat im Gesundheitswesen·2026
Same journal

Developing a non-pharmacological pain management toolkit in nursing homes using a structured evidence-generation approach.

Zeitschrift fur Evidenz, Fortbildung und Qualitat im Gesundheitswesen·2026
Same journal

[Between proximity and need: Determinants of longer travel times to emergency departments - A sub-evaluation of the utilisation survey in Bavarian emergency departments].

Zeitschrift fur Evidenz, Fortbildung und Qualitat im Gesundheitswesen·2026
Same journal

Zeitschrift fur Evidenz, Fortbildung und Qualitat im Gesundheitswesen·2026
Same journal

[Patient involvement in clinical research: An explorative interview study on researchers' perspectives, barriers, and support needs].

Zeitschrift fur Evidenz, Fortbildung und Qualitat im Gesundheitswesen·2026
Same journal

[Requirements for an effective application of artificial intelligence in interpersonal communication in healthcare: A scoping review].

Zeitschrift fur Evidenz, Fortbildung und Qualitat im Gesundheitswesen·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 28, 2026

A Clinical Trial Assessing the Safety, Efficacy, and Delivery of Olive-Oil-Based Three-Chamber Bags for Parenteral Nutrition
04:53

A Clinical Trial Assessing the Safety, Efficacy, and Delivery of Olive-Oil-Based Three-Chamber Bags for Parenteral Nutrition

Published on: September 20, 2019

[Randomised controlled trials (RCTs)].

Jürgen Windeler1, Gerd Antes, Johann Behrens

  • 1Medizinischer Dienst der Spitzenverbände der Krankenkassen, Essen. J.Windeler@MDS-ev.de

Zeitschrift Fur Evidenz, Fortbildung Und Qualitat Im Gesundheitswesen
|November 15, 2008
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Randomisation is crucial for the internal validity of clinical trials, making randomised controlled trials (RCTs) a high standard in evidence-based medicine. This article examines the principle of randomisation and addresses common criticisms of RCTs.

More Related Videos

Randomized, Triple-Blind, and Parallel-Controlled Trial of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Cognitive Rehabilitation after Stroke
08:53

Randomized, Triple-Blind, and Parallel-Controlled Trial of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Cognitive Rehabilitation after Stroke

Published on: June 6, 2025

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 28, 2026

A Clinical Trial Assessing the Safety, Efficacy, and Delivery of Olive-Oil-Based Three-Chamber Bags for Parenteral Nutrition
04:53

A Clinical Trial Assessing the Safety, Efficacy, and Delivery of Olive-Oil-Based Three-Chamber Bags for Parenteral Nutrition

Published on: September 20, 2019

Randomized, Triple-Blind, and Parallel-Controlled Trial of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Cognitive Rehabilitation after Stroke
08:53

Randomized, Triple-Blind, and Parallel-Controlled Trial of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Cognitive Rehabilitation after Stroke

Published on: June 6, 2025

Area of Science:

  • Clinical Trials Methodology
  • Evidence-Based Medicine
  • Biostatistics

Context:

  • Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) are the gold standard in therapeutic intervention research.
  • The internal validity of clinical trials relies heavily on the principle of randomisation.
  • Despite their prominence, RCTs face ongoing debate and criticism within the health research community.

Purpose:

  • To critically examine the principle of randomisation in clinical trials.
  • To address and discuss prominent arguments and controversies surrounding the use of RCTs.
  • To provide a balanced perspective on the role and limitations of randomisation in health research.

Summary:

  • The article explores the fundamental role of randomisation in ensuring the internal validity of clinical trials.
  • It acknowledges the established hierarchy placing RCTs at the top for therapeutic evidence.
  • Key arguments challenging the utility and application of RCTs are presented and discussed.

Impact:

  • Enhances understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of randomisation in clinical research.
  • Informs researchers and policymakers about the ongoing debates concerning RCT methodology.
  • Contributes to a more nuanced appreciation of evidence hierarchies in health research.