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

9.3K
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...
9.3K
Group Design02:01

Group Design

11.0K
The most basic experimental design involves two groups: the experimental group and the control group. The two groups are designed to be the same except for one difference— experimental manipulation. The experimental group gets the experimental manipulation—that is, the treatment or variable being tested—and the control group does not. Since experimental manipulation is the only difference between the experimental and control groups, we can be sure that any differences between...
11.0K
Blinding01:11

Blinding

4.1K
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.
4.1K
Cochran's Q Test01:17

Cochran's Q Test

1.1K
Cochran's Q Test is a nonparametric statistical test used to determine if there are potential differences in the outcomes of three or more related groups on a binary (yes/no) or dichotomous outcome. It is essentially an extension of the McNemar Test, which is limited to two related samples - Cochran's Q test can handle three or more related samples, making it more versatile in scenarios where subjects are measured under multiple conditions. The test statistic follows a Chi-Square...
1.1K
Clinical Trials01:16

Clinical Trials

11.2K
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...
11.2K
Blind Procedures02:07

Blind Procedures

13.9K
Ideally, the people who observe and record the children’s behavior are unaware of who was assigned to the experimental or control group, in order to control for experimenter bias. Experimenter bias refers to the possibility that a researcher’s expectations might skew the results of the study. Remember, conducting an experiment requires a lot of planning, and the people involved in the research project have a vested interest in supporting their hypotheses. If the observers knew which...
13.9K

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

On target? Cardiovascular risk factor patterns in type 1 and type 2 diabetes: Real-world attainment of cardiovascular risk factor targets and use of medication.

Diabetes research and clinical practice·2026
Same author

Methodological innovations to advance substance use disorder research: Proceedings of a NIDA workshop on target trial emulation and translational testing of digital health tools.

Journal of substance use and addiction treatment·2026
Same author

The effect of selective decontamination on antimicrobial resistance in intensive care patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Scientific reports·2026
Same author

Dispensing of benzodiazepines and benzodiazepine-related drugs in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania: a cross-national drug utilisation study.

Nordic journal of psychiatry·2026
Same author

Available guidance for ethical challenges in learning health systems: an integrative literature review.

Health research policy and systems·2026
Same author

Why Analyses of Achieved Sodium Correction Rates in Hyponatremia Studies Do Not Identify Causal (Treatment) Effects.

Journal of the American Society of Nephrology : JASN·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 13, 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

11.5K

[For the critical reader: questions to ask about randomised trials].

Rolf H H Groenwold1

  • 1UMC Utrecht, Julius Centrum voor Gezondheidswetenschappen en Eerstelijns Geneeskunde, Utrecht.

Nederlands Tijdschrift Voor Geneeskunde
|May 7, 2015
PubMed
Summary

This guide helps clinicians assess randomized trials for medical practice. Ensuring group comparability and considering study purpose, comparisons, and effect applicability are key for reliable results.

More Related Videos

A Novel Method for Involving Women of Color at High Risk for Preterm Birth in Research Priority Setting
14:43

A Novel Method for Involving Women of Color at High Risk for Preterm Birth in Research Priority Setting

Published on: January 12, 2018

13.7K
Irrelevant Stimuli and Action Control: Analyzing the Influence of Ignored Stimuli via the Distractor-Response Binding Paradigm
12:12

Irrelevant Stimuli and Action Control: Analyzing the Influence of Ignored Stimuli via the Distractor-Response Binding Paradigm

Published on: May 14, 2014

11.1K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Apr 13, 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

11.5K
A Novel Method for Involving Women of Color at High Risk for Preterm Birth in Research Priority Setting
14:43

A Novel Method for Involving Women of Color at High Risk for Preterm Birth in Research Priority Setting

Published on: January 12, 2018

13.7K
Irrelevant Stimuli and Action Control: Analyzing the Influence of Ignored Stimuli via the Distractor-Response Binding Paradigm
12:12

Irrelevant Stimuli and Action Control: Analyzing the Influence of Ignored Stimuli via the Distractor-Response Binding Paradigm

Published on: May 14, 2014

11.1K

Area of Science:

  • Clinical Research Methodology
  • Evidence-Based Medicine

Background:

  • Randomized trials are crucial for medical practice.
  • Assessing the validity of randomized trial results is essential for applying findings to patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide guidance on evaluating articles reporting randomized trials.
  • To assist healthcare professionals in applying published randomized trial results in clinical settings.

Main Methods:

  • The article outlines criteria for assessing the comparability of treatment groups throughout a study.
  • It emphasizes the importance of considering study design, comparisons, and effect applicability for interpretation.

Main Results:

  • Comparable groups at study initiation, during, and at outcome measurement are necessary.
  • Accurate attribution of health outcomes to interventions requires rigorous group comparability.

Conclusions:

  • Interpreting and generalizing randomized trial findings depend on group comparability and careful consideration of study context.
  • This guidance aims to enhance the critical appraisal of randomized trials for improved clinical decision-making.