QuestionSBA
QuestionChoice
This is not a randomisation technique. Confounding is a phenomenon that occurs in research whereby an additional, unmeasured variable impacts both the independent variable (the 'cause') in the study and the outcome measure (the 'effect'). It therefore obscures the interpretation of results.
10025659
e
Confounding
QuestionChoice
This is a randomisation technique aiming to maintain similar numbers of participants in each condition. It does this by dividing the participant population into smaller chunks and ensuring that a set amount of participants from each chunk are allocated to each group of the study.
10025657
c
Block randomisation
QuestionChoice
This method of randomisation first divides up the participant population into groups (strata) of similar baseline characteristics. Each created strata are then allocated via simple randomisation to each study arm, with the aim being to ensure similar baseline characteristics amongst each arm of the trial.
10025658
d
Stratification
QuestionChoice
This is a method of randomisation that seeks to equalise baseline characteristics between groups. It is used if multiple prognostic or confounding factors in the participant population need to be accounted for. It is an adaptive method of randomisation, as future participant allocation depends on the previous allocations of other participants.
10025655
a
Minimisation
QuestionChoice
This is a common method of participant allocation whereby a computer is used to randomly allocate trial participants to groups of a study. A limitation of simple randomisation is that baseline characteristics may differ between each condition.
10025656
b
Simple randomisation
Concept
Chapter
2693
4470
Selection Bias
Topic
178
Medical Statistics
17529
A 35 year old man with asthma is reviewed by his GP. The patient has read about a new randomised control trial on the effectiveness of a novel short-acting beta agonist versus salbutamol. The paper states that the first participant in the study was randomly allocated to either the new drug group or the salbutamol group via a computer. After that, participants were randomly allocated to each condition whilst ensuring that prognostic factors (age, sex and total lung capacity) were balanced across each group.

Which of the following best describes the type of randomisation used to allocate trial participants to the groups in this study?
a